Role Reversal For Quarter-finalists
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday January 26, 2004
Justine Henin-Hardenne did not walk away from Melbourne Park with the trophy last year but she believes the groundwork for her stellar season was done at the Australian Open, starting with her fourth-round win over nemesis Lindsay Davenport.
Until that epic, three-hour match, the Belgian had not defeated Davenport in five previous outings. She overcame severe cramp to win 7-5, 5-7, 9-7 and labelled the match a major turning point in her career.
Tomorrow she once more encounters Davenport, for the first time since that day. Instead of the underdog looking for a breakthrough, she goes into the match as the world No.1.
``It has been a big turn for sure," Henin-Hardenne reflected yesterday. ``It was really important to me to beat her for once in my career . . . It gave me a lot of confidence. I believe in myself that I can beat the top players, in the hardcourts especially."
In an intriguing quarter-final, Henin-Hardenne and Davenport were both playing down their chances of winning. Davenport, the fifth seed, is enjoying her underdog status.
``Its just where I am right now. It's kind of where I deserve to be, I mean I didn't play the full season last year," said the American, who, nonetheless, has been ``pleasantly surprised" by her start to the year.
For Henin-Hardenne, her poor track record against Davenport, makes the contest unpredictable. ``I don't see myself like the biggest favourite of this month because Lindsay, she has a lot of experience and she beat me most of the times."
Henin-Hardenne knows she will have to play aggressively if she wants to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
``Lindsay is hitting the ball very hard, she's serving pretty well. She looks like she's in confidence now . . . I cannot let her play her game. When she is on court, she is very, very strong."
Davenport believes Henin-Hardenne has improved considerably since their most-recent meeting. ``I think she has improved her forehand quite a bit, doesn't give you as many errors as she did in her first few years on tour. I think physically she appears to be much stronger and she's always been quick."
Yesterday, the top seed had problems containing exciting 16-year-old qualifier Mara Santangelo. Despite a lop-sided opening set, in which the Belgian broke serve four times and lost her own once, the match became a real contest in the second set.
The Italian rushed the net whenever she could and managed an early break of serve. She should have had two. Leading 4-2 she had another break point but Henin-Hardenne's backhand saved the game. From there, she lost her serve when trying to win the set and Henin-Hardenne clinched it in a tie-breaker to take the match 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) .
Davenport had a regulation 6-1, 6-3 victory over Russian Vera Zvonareva, who has troubled the American before.
History was made when the 32nd seed Fabiola Zuluaga defeated Aniko Kapros 6-4, 6-2 to progress to the quarter-finals, where she will play Amelie Mauresmo. Zuluaga is the first player, male or female, from Colombia to make it so far in a grand slam. ``It is great not just for me but my country," she said.
Results Page 32
© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald
