Clijsters beats Henin in three sets
In what was supposed to be a close affair Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters provided just that as they went the distance in their fourth round match.
Despite looking like it would be a one-sided affair after Henin took the first set 6-2, Clijsters came back and fought her way to a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Despite slipping on approach to the net at 2-0 up in the first and showing clear discomfort when getting up, Henin took the first set 6-2 in convincing fashion.
Whether it was nerves or simply Henin being too good, Clijsters struggled from the outset and couldn’t handle her nimble opponent. The US Open champion only hit five winners all set and though Henin only hit eight herself, the unforced error count was the major difference with Clijsters hitting 13 to Henin’s four.
And in just 29 minutes Henin wrapped up the first set 6-2, despite having the trainer come on to check on her right forehand.
The second set, however, produced a whole new Clijsters and the eighth seed used her powerful shots to dominate her opponent.
Sorting her unforced error problem, Clijsters began to put the pressure on Henin, who could only serve at 55% for the set. Winning just one point on her second serve it was a completely different Henin to the one of the first set.
The turnaround was complete in just 30 minutes and the match everyone was hoping materialised.
The final set was much closer than the previous two, with both women holding serve for the first six games of the set, despite only serving at 60 and 50 per cent respectively.
Despite no visible signs of the fall from the first set affecting her Henin seemed to be on the back foot through the whole of the third set and in the eighth game was broken by Clijsters. A barrage of heavy ground strokes from the eighth seed was too much for Henin to handle and she was looking at the exit door.
With Clijsters serving for the match, Henin tried her best to get the break and at 15-30 it looked like she would pull it off. But some big serves from the US Open champion eased the pressure as she held her nerve to close out the set 6-3.
Though the fall in the first set might have affected her game, Henin was in the end overpowered by her Belgian compatriot, who continues to have a much more impressive comeback than the once world No.1.
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