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| Belgium Justine Henin-Hardenne
plays a shot to compatriot Kim Clijsters during their semi-final of the
French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris June 8, 2006.
(Xinhua photo) |
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| Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova
returns the ball to Czech Republic's Nicole Vaidisova in their semifinal
match during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros
stadium in Paris, Thursday June 8, 2006. Kuznetsova won 5-7, 7-6, 6-2.
(Xinhua photo) |
PARIS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Justine
Henin-Hardenne eased into the French Open final with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win
over Belgian compatriot Kim Clijsters on Thursday.
The fifth seed will now face Svetlana Kuznetsova in
Saturday's final after the Russian had earlier rallied to defeat Czech teenager
Nicole Vaidisova 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 in the other semi-final.
Second-seeded Clijsters looked uncharacteristically
out of form,and Henin capitalized to reach her third French Open final.
Despite having to save two break points in her first
two service games, Henin rallied back and broke decisively in the eighth game of
the first set, before taking the set with an ace.
Clijsters looked in real trouble on the center court, as her serve failed again in the third game of the second set, a double fault gifting Henin the advantage.
And the former world number one went on to break for
a final time in the seventh game of the second set before serving out to take
the set to two and the match with it.
"I tried to put a maximum of pressure from the
start," said Henin-Hardenne.
"I served well, it was essential. I did not shiver in
the key moments. I forced her into rallies and I know she does not like that.
"Now I really have to stay focused because there is
another big match on Saturday. It's quite something as I can win my third Roland
Garros."
Clijsters, who was celebrating her 23rd birthday on
Thursday, had talked of Henin's status as the best player on clay before the
semifinal, and afterwards, her opinion was no different.
"I have tried to do my best," said Clijsters, twice a
finalist at Roland Garros. "She plays very, very well, she is the best player on
clay."
Down a set, and two points away from defeat,
Kuznetsova found the resources to post a remarkable over her 17-year-old Czech
opponent in two hours and 31 minutes.
On her way to her second Grand Slam final and first
in Roland Garros, Kuznetsova thumped eight aces, pounded 26 winners and madeonly
19 unforced errors to an overwhelming 47 for Vaidisova.
"At the start, I was solid but suddenly I wanted to
win points too fast," Kuznetsova said.
"I let her go a little bit. In the second set, she
played unbelievable. She was hitting the lines. I was just putting the ball back
and taking no risks. She started rushing her shots. I think she got a little
nervous.
"I had a little bit more experience than she had. I
was better physically at the end," added the 2004 US Open champion.
In the men's doubles, Bob and Mike Bryan will take on
defendingchampions Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi in a repeat of last year's
French Open final.
The 28-year-old American twins reached their sixth
consecutive Grand Slam final, breaking the Open Era record set by Todd
Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1996-97, with a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) victory over
15th seeds Andrei Pavel and Alexander Waske.
Second-seeded Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi beat
Czech No. 13 seeds Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner 6-3, 6-3. Enditem
