Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters book 23rd career meeting

2
Wilson Blade 9

Justine Henin

Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, two former Belgian world No.1s  that have nine Grand Slam singles titles between them, will face each other for the 23rd time in their fruitful careers and the occasion will be the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open semifinals. Their head-to-head record is very close – Henin leads the series 12-11.

Justine Henin, wildcard entry into the tournament, has beaten her fourth seeded opponent in a row with a 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4 triumph over seed No.2 Caroline Wozniacki in the Sony Ericsson Open quarterfinals, while No.14 seed Kim Clijsters defeated No.9 seed Samantha Stosur 6-3 7-5 in the second quarterfinal of the day.

Kim Clijsters

The world No.33 Henin, who is projected to return to the Top 30 next week, had committed 31 unforced errors in the first set, before her game became more stable. In the third set she lost only two of 22 service points and closed out the match against Wozniacki with a love game.

Clijsters, currently ranked 16th, played her quarterfinal aggressively and Stosur, who pulled off come-from-behind wins in her first two matches in Miami and then upset No.7 seed Jelena Jankovic in the last round, couldn’t overcome the power of the two-time Grand Slam champion.

“It has always been special and it will always be special,” Henin said on the rivalry with Clijsters. “Kim and I grew up together, arrived on the tour at the same time, played well at the same time, retired at the same time, and now we came back at the same time. It’s amazing. We have never stopped respecting each other. Never, ever, ever.”

Additional info: The other semifinal at the Sony Ericsson Open features Venus Williams and Marion Bartoli. (photos: Twenty90seven)

2 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t know what to make about the Belgians return. Mrs. K.C. won USO 09, won Brisbane and had the worst defeat in her career at AO 10. Took the whole month of February off (skipped Dubai), she had an early exit at Indian Wells. Semis here in Miami (so far). As for Henin a runner up at Brisbane, reached the finals at AO 10, did not play in February (she also skipped Dubai) she also had an early exit at Indian Wells, and semis (so far) here in Miami. I’m guessing the Belgians are doing well in Miami because they are fresher than the rest of the field.

    This tournament became the youngters against the veterans, and the veterans took it to the youngters.

    Azarenka lost to Mrs. K.C.
    A. Radwanska lost to Venus
    Wozniacki lost to Henin.
    Wicki lost to Bartoli.

    Only Wozniacki was the only one to take a set. It was not a cake walk for Henin, if she hadn’t broken Wozzy in the third game in the third set things might have been interesting. Henin held the last three service games at love. Once Henin was serving for the set up 5-4 you knew it was over.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here