Print

Mail

wiki links

Henin cruises past teenage Pole

Justine Henin reached the semi-finals of the Zurich Open after defeating teenager Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 6-2, while two more players withdrew from the tournament with injuries.

Francesca Schiavone advanced when No. 2 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova retired with a right shoulder injury while trailing 6-3, 3-3. France's Tatiana Golovin secured her place in the semi-finals when compatriot Marion Bartoli quit with a sore left knee and Golovin leading 5-4 in the first set.

Henin, who won on her last visit to Zurich in 2003, had little trouble with the 18-year-old Pole.

The top-ranked Belgian made the decisive opening-set break at 3-3 with a lob that Radwanska was able to reach but not get over the net. In the second set, Henin won five consecutive games to lead 5-1.

Henin's concentration wavered while serving out the set, committing two double faults -- one on her first match point -- before finally closing the match with a second service winner.

"It was a bit frustrating in the first set. I couldn't find my rhythm," said Henin, who has reached the semi-finals in every tournament she has entered since April last year.

"She was serving pretty slow, so it was tough for me to come in and be aggressive. The second set, it was like the machine switched on," she said.

Henin, who is 56-4 this season, is seeking her ninth title of the year. She was next due to play Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, who defeated Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 6-4.

In all, four players have retired during the tournament.

On Tuesday, sixth-seeded Serena Williams retired with a sore right thigh. On Wednesday, Elena Dementieva pulled out due to a left thigh injury against Schiavone.

"It's strange. Two retirements. But I think I could have won anyway," Schiavone said.

Second-seeded Kuznetsova was bothered by shoulder pain after her first match on Thursday night.

"It's not that serious, but I need time off," Kuznetsova said. "I didn't have much time to recover after last night. The muscle is very tight. It's overworked. I can't move my arm up. It just got worse and worse as the match went on."

Schiavone was due to play Golovin next.

Bartoli broken at love for a 5-4 lead when she suddenly began limping heavily on the court. Though she had her knee taped, she was unable to continue.

Bartoli was in tears when she limped over to the net to shake hands with Golovin. Bartoli was expected to return to Geneva later on Friday night and see her doctor yesterday, organizers said.

"I was a little worried. She was crying on the court," Golovin said. "I asked her if she was OK. She said she hurt herself hitting a forehand down the line."
This story has been viewed 906 times.