Sunday, Jun 08, 2003
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Tennis
Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne kisses the `Coupe Suzanne Lenglen' after winning the women's singles title at the French Open in Roland Garros on Saturday. — AFP
Henin-Hardenne became Belgium's first Grand Slam champion, and she did it with surprising ease. Clijsters, seeded No. 2, failed to convert six break-point chances in the opening set and played 31 minutes before winning a game. When Clijsters hit one last errant forehand on match point, a jubilant Henin-Hardenne flung her racket, raised her arms, looked to the sky and covered her eyes. She hugged her friend, rival and countrywoman at the net and gave Clijsters a pat on the shoulder. Henin-Hardenne then went into the stands to embrace her husband and her coach. "It was an emotional match for me," Henin-Hardenne said. "I had to fight so hard, and I feel very happy." Clijsters was erratic from the start and less aggressive than the No. 4-seeded Henin-Hardenne, who showed the same kind of poise that helped her upset defending champion Serena Williams in the semifinals. Clijsters' tactics backfired, too, including untimely drop shots that Henin-Hardenne chased down and whacked for winners. The four games Clijsters won were the fewest games for a women's finalist at Roland Garros in 15 years. "I wasn't even close to playing my best tennis today, but I'm happy for Justine that she won," said Clijsters, who lost the 2001 final to Jennifer Capriati. "I hope I can get another chance and do better next time." On a sunny, 31-degree (88 F) afternoon, the centre-court crowd included King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium, as well as Clijsters' boyfriend, top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt. The fans, so boisterous during Henin-Hardenne's upset of Williams, were divided in their support at first but rooted in vain for a Clijsters comeback. It was the first major final since the 2002 Australian Open to feature someone other than the Williams sisters, but the match was just as lopsided as many of their wins in recent years. Henin-Hardenne fell behind 0-40 serving in the second game, erased three consecutive break points and held. Two games later, she did it again. Clijsters also had a game point in the fifth game, giving her seven for the set. But she failed to convert any, and on set point Henin-Hardenne placed a drop shot so perfectly that Clijsters didn't even attempt to reach. Clijsters had two more break points trailing 3-2 in the second set, but she couldn't keep her usually reliable forehand in the court and again failed to convert. She finally broke at love for 4-all, but Henin-Hardenne smacked two winners from the baseline in the next game to break back, then served out the victory. Henin-Hardenne won $958,000 and will climb to third in the rankings next week, surpassing Venus Williams. Her victory ends a streak of 11 consecutive Grand Slam titles won by Americans. Clijsters received $479,000.
Ferrero ends Costa's marathon run
Meanwhile on Friday, Juan Carlos Ferrero thrashed defending champion Albert Costa 6-3, 7-6, 6-4 in the semifinals today, exacting sweet revenge for last year's defeat in the final by his fellow Spaniard. Costa, seeded nine, had recovered from two sets down to win three times and had played four five-setters already in the tournament but another comeback proved beyond him. Ferrero dominated the first set, recovered from 5-3 down in the second to snatch it on a tie-break and outmanoeuvred Costa in the third to move to within one victory of his maiden Grand Slam title. "After playing five sets it's normal that he was a bit tired. I was more fresh and I really wanted to win," Ferrero said. "I shall be playing in the final for the second successive year and I hope I will have better memories this time. I'm better physically than last year." Ferrero's victory means he has won his last 12 matches against fellow Spaniards. Ferrero had jokily suggested before the match that he would throw the second set just to avoid holding a two sets lead against his comeback king of a compatriot. But he did nothing of the sort in an often turgid encounter between two closely matched claycourt exponents. Ferrero raced into a 4-1 lead in the opening set, sealing it when 27-year-old Costa netted a pitiful attempt at a drop shot while serving at 3-5. Costa should have won the second set after taking a 5-3 lead with brutal forehand blows but Ferrero broke him to love to level. In the tiebreak the younger pretender outmanoeuvred Costa, recovering from 5-3 down to snatch it 7-5. To win from there Costa would have had to do what no man in any tour event had achieved — win a fifth match in five sets in the same tournament. His mood darkening all the time, the Spanish iron man tried to stir himself in the third set as the sun began to dip over centre court. But serving at 3-3 and break point down, Costa tripped and fell playing a forehand at the baseline. In that moment his hopes bit the dust. Ferrero held serve twice and sealed a hugely satisfying afternoon's work with a neat forehand winner, sinking to his knees to celebrate a perfect outcome to his fourth successive Roland Garros semifinal.
Bhupathi-Likhovtseva duo loses in final
The Indian dreams of a fourth successive Grand Slam title came unstuck as the reigning Wimbledon champion, third-seeded Mahesh Bhupathi and Elena Likhovtseva of Russia lost 3-6, 4-6 to second-seeded Lisa Raymond and Mike Bryan of the U.S. The results: Women's singles (final): 4-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel) bt 2-Kim Clijsters (Bel) 6-0, 6-4. Men's singles (semifinal): 3-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Esp) bt 9-Albert Costa (Esp) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. Women's doubles (semifinals): 2-Kim Clijsters (Bel) & Ai Sugiyama (Jpn) bt 4-Cara Black (Zim) & Elena Likhovtseva (Rus) 6-1, 6-4; 1-Virginia Ruano Pascual (Esp) & Paola Suarez (Arg) bt 9-Daniela Hantuchova (Svk) & Chanda Rubin (U.S.) 6-2, 7-6 (7-5). Mixed doubles (final): 2-Mike Bryan & Lisa Raymond (U.S.) bt 3-Mahesh Bhupathi (Ind) & Elena Likhovtseva (Rus) 6-3, 6-4.
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