The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Pierce, Henin set up title clash

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 03, 2005

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Sport - Tennis

Pierce, Henin set up title clash

PARIS: Mary Pierce and Justine Henin-Hardenne's comeback trails converge on Saturday in the French Open final.

Both former champions have rebounded from career-stalling ailments, and both easily defeated Russian opponents on Thursday. First, Henin-Hardenne beat Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-3, and then Pierce won even more quickly, eliminating Elena Likhovtseva 6-1, 6-1.

Pierce opened well, looking comfortable behind her big first serve and within 11 minutes she was 3-0 and a service break ahead.

The 29-year-old Russian, in her first Grand Slam semifinal at the 46th attempt, had no answers to Pierce's power although she staved off two break points to avoid going 4-0 down.

Pierce then had to save two break points against her own serve in her only wobbly game of the match after which she finished off the set 6-1 in just 32 minutes.

Pierce broke in the third game to lead 2-1 and it had all become embarrassingly one-sided.

The Frenchwoman broke again to go 5-1 up and put Likhovtseva out of her misery in the next game finishing her off with another rasping forehand winner.

Formidable Henin

Henin-Hardenne earned the first of her three Grand Slam titles two years ago at Roland Garros, the tournament she loves most. She has won 23 consecutive matches this year, all on clay, and is 26-1 since returning in March from a seven-month layoff.

One day after celebrating her 23rd birthday, Henin-Hardenne started fast against Petrova and finished the same way. She swept the final four games and skipped consecutive winners off the baseline to reach match point.

When Petrova sailed a forehand long, Henin-Hardenne raised her arms and broke into a triumphant grin.

Davydenko wins a thriller

Nikolay Davydenko celebrated his 24th birthday a day early on Wednesday when he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Spain's Tommy Robredo in a marathon quarterfinal clash.

India's Leander Paes and Martina Navratilova of U.S. stormed into the final of the mixed doubles defeating 6-2, 6-3 win over Samantha Stosur and Paul Hanley of Australia.

In the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Paes and Navratilova defeated Corina Morariu and Jared Palmer of the U.S. 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3.

India's Vivek Shokeen and Martin Sayer of Hong Kong lost to Canadian of Phillip Bester and Peter Polansky 3-6, 4-6 in the boys' doubles first round on Wednesday. — Agencies

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