Hantuchova rides into round three

Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia plays a backhand during her second round match against Alize Cornet of France on day four

Women's No.9 seed Daniela Hantuchova has eliminated France's Alize Cornet in straight sets to advance to the third round of Australian Open 2008.

Hantuchova survived a late surge from her opponent to take the match 6-2 7-5.

Hantuchova broke Cornet twice in the opening set to win it comfortably but Cornet began to put up a fight early in the second set when, after a correct challenge using the new video line calling system on Vodafone Arena , she was left with three break points.

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She broke the Slovakian on her first attempt after Hantuchova's ball hit the tape. Hantuchova broke back immediately and broke her again in her next service game, to lead the set 4-3.

Not one to give up, Cornet produced another break in the next game with a cross-court volley to level the set at 4-all.

However, Hantuchova broke her opponent again in the 11th game and served out the match, winning with two match points up her sleeve.
Hantuchova really pushed her opponent around the court throughout the match, and although Cornet put on an impressive show chasing down balls, it meant she struggled to produce winners as she expended most of her energy keeping the ball in play.
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Henin to face Kuznetsova in final

Justine Henin of Belgium celebrates after winning her semi-final match against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia for the WTA Qatar Total Open in Doha, 02 March 2007.

DOHA, Qatar -- Top seed Justine Henin beat Serbian Jelena Jankovic 6-7 6-2 6-4 to reach the final of the Qatar Open on Friday and stay on course for a 'Gulf Double'.

The Belgian's opponent in Saturday's final will be Russian second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 6-4 6-2.

Henin, who won her first title of the season in Dubai last week after beating Kuznetsova in the semifinals, extended her winning streak to 7-0 after beating the fourth seed in two hours and 22 minutes.

Both players made a string of unforced errors, resulting in breaks and counter-breaks.

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"I think I need some tennis," said Henin, the world number two who split with her husband late last year and made a delayed start to the season. "I am happy to stay longer on the court. But it is always better to win in two sets.

"You need to keep fighting and I needed this kind of a match to get my confidence back. I am very happy with the way I kept fighting. I wasn't playing very well, but I came back very strongly," she added.

"I had my chances in the first set, but did not take those opportunities.

"In the second set I played much better and in the third set I had control of the match even though it was hard to keep my serve. I remained very aggressive on the return."

Jankovic, who withdrew from her semifinal against Amelie Mauresmo in Dubai last week, said she still had problems with a sore left ankle.

She also blamed the windy conditions for making too many mistakes, a complaint Henin echoed.

"It was a big problem," said the Belgian. "I wear contacts and with the sand and wind it wasn't easy at all. It was hard to play good tennis."

Henin broke Jankovic in the first game to gain a psychological advantage, but the Serbian broke back in the eighth to make it 4-4.

Henin led 5-4 with another service break, but Jankovic fought back again to level the scores. At 6-5 Henin was serving again for the set, but the Serbian saved the situation and forced the tie-break. Jankovic eventually clinched the set 7-5.
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Henin Beats Mauresmo For Fourth Career Dubai Title

Justine Henin of Belgium holds the trophy after she beat Amelie Mauresmo of France in their final tennis match for Dubai Duty Free Open 24 February 2007. Henin won 6-4, 7-5.

DUBAI, UAE - When the going gets tough, the tough get going. That was the theme throughout the week in Dubai as a somewhat rusty Justine Henin played her way back into top form, and on Saturday night extended her undefeated streak in the Middle Eastern paradise to 16-0 with her fourth Dubai Duty Free Women's Open title. She downed Amelie Mauresmo in an intense final, 64 75.

The championship match, played under the lights of the beautiful Dubai Tennis Stadium, was a tight affair save the first and final moments. The top-seeded Henin broke twice to jump ahead 4-1 in the first set; Mauresmo, the No.2 seed, got one break back then nearly pulled even, holding points to close to 4-all, but was unable to capitalize. The second set was a tight one as well as the players remained on serve throughout most of it; but again it was the Belgian who pulled through in the crunch, holding, breaking and holding on a 12-point, three-game tear for her 16th straight win at the $1.5 million, Tier II event.

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Henin said that the dynamic hinged on that near-turnaround in the eighth game.

"That was the key of the first set for sure, and probably of the match, because she was coming back in the match very strongly and I was starting to feel a little bit nervous; but I had good serves and was pretty aggressive," said Henin, who broke a 6-6 head-to-head tie against Mauresmo with the win. "Tonight I played my best tennis and I'm very proud of it."

The Belgian had not had an ideal beginning to the 2007 season. Having finished last season as the world's No.1, she missed the entire Australian season due to personal reasons, then fell in the semifinals of her first event of the year in Paris. But her fortune changed in the desert paradise that is Dubai, where she had already claimed singles titles in 2003, 2004 and last year.

"It was hard for me this week; I had a lot of ups and downs, but I kept fighting," said Henin, who survived three set scares from Tamira Paszek and Svetlana Kuznetsova in earlier matches. "I've been very positive. Each point has been important for me this week. I think I deserved it today. I love this place."

Mauresmo, who was coming off her third consecutive Proximus Diamond Games title in Antwerp (receiving the coveted diamond-studded racquet for that effort), was disappointed, but was still encouraged at her level of play this past week.

"I'm really proud of showing the crowd here in Dubai some of my best tennis; unfortunately I didn't get the title, but I really enjoyed it here," said Mauresmo, who won here in 2002. "I said at the beginning of the week it was going to be difficult to get through to the end. I almost got there. It was only the matter of a few points here and there. She just played some great shots at the right time."

Henin improved to 30-15 in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles finals with the win, while Mauresmo fell to 24-20. They are expected to remain at No.2 and No.3, respectively, when the new singles rankings are released this coming Monday.

Others who made headlines this past week were Jelena Jankovic, who defeated Martina Hingis for a semifinal berth before spraining her left ankle and retiring against Mauresmo Friday evening; Kuznetsova, who also reached the semifinals before falling to Henin in three; and Eleni Daniilidou and Alicia Molik, who both notched Top 20 victories earlier in the week.

But Dubai belonged to Henin, who, playing just her second event of the season, brought out some inspired aggressive form to move herself back in the winner's circle. And she doesn't intend on slowing down, or looking back, any time soon.

"Sure I had a great season last year but that's already in the past. I love tennis so much and it's my passion, so every time I walk on the court, it's to give my best and to enjoy the moment. I love competition. I'm sure I'll come out even stronger with a little more time."
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Mauresmo beats Clijsters in final

French Amelie Mauresmo celebrates as she won the final against Kim Clijsters at the Antwerp Proximus Diamond Games WTA tennis tournament, 18 February 2007. Amelie Mauresmo won 6-4, 7-6 and the racket of 1700 diamonds, of a weight of 17 kg and wich values 1 million euro, as she won the tournement for the third time in 3 years.

Top seed Amelie Mauresmo spoiled Kim Clijsters' last appearance on home soil with a straight-sets win in the Diamond Games final in Antwerp.

Mauresmo won 6-4 7-6 (7-4) to become the first player to win a hat-trick of Antwerp titles, and for that feat also won a diamond-studded racquet trophy.

"I said all week I didn't think about it, but honestly I thought about it the whole week," said Mauresmo.

Clijsters was playing her last match in Belgium before retiring later in 2007.

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"There is no better champion than you," Clijsters said of Mauresmo. "I admire you in so many ways."

Despite the warm words from Clijsters, the 15,000 sell-out crowd made their feelings known throughout the match, notably when Mauresmo won the penultimate point in the tie-break.

"It's a bit difficult for me now because I know you are all very disappointed," Mauresmo told the crowd.

"I am sorry. I understand, Kim is a great champion."

Clijsters was always struggling in a match littered with errors, and the 23-year-old Belgian lost her opening service game before breaking back in the fourth game.

Belgium's Kim Clijsters wipes a tear as she lost against France's Amelie Mauresmo at the final of the Diamond games in Antwerp, Belgium, Sunday Feb. 18, 2007. Kim Clijsters bid a tearful farewell to her Belgian fans Sunday after losing at her last tournament on home turf before retiring later this season.

But her serve soon let her down again as Mauresmo took the first set, before both players broke serve twice in the second.

Clijsters fought back from two break points down in the tie-break to level at 4-4 before Mauresmo won three points in a row.

"Enjoy the beautiful racquet, you deserve it and I am sure it will find a nice place in your house," said Clijsters.

"You always play well here and you are a terrific player."
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Clijsters & Mauresmo reach final

Belgium's Kim Clijsters returns the ball during the semi-finals of the Proximus Diamond Games against France's Tatiana Golovin at the Sportpalace in Antwerp, Belgium, Saturday Feb. 17, 2007. Klijsters won the match 6-4, 6-3.

Kim Clijsters ensured that her last match on Belgian soil will be a tough encounter when she set up a Diamond Games final against Amelie Mauresmo.

French top seed Amelie Mauresmo battled to a 6-3 3-6 6-2 win over Russia's Anna Chakvetadze in the first of Saturday's semi-finals in Antwerp.

And Clijsters, 23, then gave her home crowd what they wanted by defeating France's Tatiana Golovin 6-4 6-3.

Clijsters is playing her final Belgian event before retiring later in 2007.

"Tomorrow will be a very emotional day and I am just glad that I am still here to enjoy it and am in the final," said Clijsters.

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World number three Mauresmo is looking to find some form after a slow start to the year.

She broke Chakvetadze's serve in game seven on her way to securing the first set but the 19-year-old Russian fought back to take the second set after an early break.

Mauresmo then moved up a gear in the decider to claim her second win over Chakvetadze in a week, following their quarter-final in Paris last week.

But there were worrying signs for the Wimbledon champion, who seemed to be carrying a leg injury in the final set.

"I didn't return well, I had too many ups and downs," said Mauresmo. "I was really going forward to take control of the match."

She had an extra incentive to reach the final, however, as she can claim a diamond-studded racquet awarded for three title wins in five years having also won in 2005 and 2006.

The racquet is made of five kilos of gold, with 1,900 diamonds totalling 240 carats.

"I would be lying if I said it was not a dream prize," said Mauresmo. "Every match I win, it is starting to be a little bit more on my mind, but the final will be the toughest one to win."

Clijsters said: "It will be a very special match.

"Amelie is playing for the fabulous racquet and, as far as I'm concerned, I just want to thank all of my fans by giving them one last success in Belgium."

"I just want to thank all of my fans by giving them one last success in Belgium, said Kim"
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