Justine Henin wins Proximus Diamond Games for 41st career title

Justine Henin with Proximus Diamond Games trophyTop seed Justine Henin beat Italy’s Karin Knapp 6-3 6-3 to win the Proximus Diamond Games in her home Belgium. The Antwerp title is Henin’s second of the 2008 season, the first one was Sydney, and it's her 41st career title.

It was the first meeting between Henin and Knapp. World No.1 Henin continued her not-so-perfect play, but still she was more than Knapp could handle. I must point out, however, that the young Italian didn’t disappoint at all. She was a good opponent, and Henin didn't defeat her easily.

Despite the loss, the 20-year-old Knapp made a great achievement. The world No.47 hadn't won a match in three tournaments this year before her surprising run to the Antwerp final. It was her first career final and she reached it with victories over Nathalie Dechy, Yaroslava Shvedova, fourth seed Patty Schnyder, and ninth seed Na Li.

Winning the Proximus Diamond Games, Justine Henin earned $95,500. For the overly luxurious trophy she’ll have to win two more times.

Additional info: Because of the WTA’s changes to the calendar, from 2009 onwards the Proximus Diamond Games will be a tournament by invitation only. Henin opted to play in Antwerp at the farewell edition despite picking up a $10 000 fine for withdrawing from next week's event in Doha. In addition, she will forfeit $125 000 of her share in the season year-end bonus pool for missing the newly-required event. (photo via Proximus Diamond Games)

Justine Henin comes from set down to move into Antwerp final

Justine Henin moves into Proximus Diamond Games finalWorld No.1 Justine Henin had to play three sets to beat qualifier Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 and reach the Proximus Diamond Games final.

The 18-year-old Bacsinszky, ranked 94th in the world, took the first set but couldn't fight well for long enough to beat the top seed. Bacsinszky had as much as seven break points in the second set but didn't convert any of them. She wasted too many chances to produce an upset. Still, favorite Henin was made to work for more than two hours, while Bacsinszky showed she has confidence to challenge a much higher ranked player.

In Sunday's final, Henin will face China's Na Li or Karin Knapp of Italy, who play their semifinal match later Saturday. (photo via Yahoo)

Daniela Hantuchova retires against Timea Bacsinszky in Antwerp

Daniela Hantuchova retires in AntwerpSwiss teenage qualifier Timea Bacsinszky beat third seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 4-6 4-1 as the Slovakian retired due to what seemed to be breathing problems at the Proximus Diamond Games, in Antwerp, Belgium.

During the quarterfinal, Hantuchova was seen several times by a doctor and appeared to be having breathing difficulties. When the world No.8 decided to retire she enabled the 18-year-old Bacsinszky to score her first victory over a top 10 player.

Bacsinszky will be playing in her first career WTA semifinal when she faces the winner of the Henin-Kleybanova match.

This has been the second upset of Antwerp quarterfinals, as fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder fell to unseeded Karin Knapp of Italy earlier in the day. (via Earth Times, photo via Getty Images)

Patty Schnyder loses to Karin Knapp in Antwerp quarterfinals

Patty Schnyder loses to Karin Knapp in Antwerp quarterfinalsFourth seed Patty Schnyder was upset in the quarterfinals of the Proximus Diamond Games by unseeded Italian Karin Knapp who won 6-2 6-7 7-6.

The match was tight, and the 20-year-old Knapp almost spoiled the great opportunity to reach her first semifinal of the season as Schnyder's experience started to dominate. Still, Knapp managed to defeat the favorite by gathering her power towards the end of the match. The Italian won the third set tiebreak 7-2.

The 13th-ranked Schnyder was playing an Antwerp quarterfinal for the fifth time, winning only one back in 2002.

World No.47 Knapp will next face either ninth seed Na Li of China or Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson who advanced to the quarterfinals by upsetting second-seeded Anna Chakvetadze. (photo via Yahoo)

Anna Chakvetadze upset at Proximus Diamond Games

Anna Chakvetadze at Proximus Diamond Games in AntwerpSecond seed Anna Chakvetadze was stunned in the second round of the Proximus Diamond Games by Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson, ranked 66th in the world. Final score was 6-3 7-5.

World No.6 Chakvetadze, who won the Open Gaz de France last week, suffered a surprise loss in the first match she played since (the Russian had a bye in the first round of the tournament in Antwerp).

Sofia Arvidsson will next play China’s Na Li, seeded-ninth. (photo via Getty Images)


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