DOHA, 3 March 2007 — Justine Henin moved into the final of the 1.34 million WTA Qatar Open to set up a revenge match with Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova in today’s final.
In the semifinals yesterday, Henin scored a tough 6-7 (5 7), 6-2, 6-4 victory over Serbian Jelena Jankovic, while Kuznetsova, the second seed, ousted Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-2.
Henin was beaten by Kuznetsova in the semifinals of the 2004 Qatar Open when Anastasia Myskina won the title.
Yesterday, the Russian had just one break in the first set and three in the second to complete an easy win over the Slovakian.
World No. 2 Henin won despite not playing her best tennis in a match that saw as many as 16 service breaks over the three sets with seven of them coming consecutively in the decider.
Bidding for her second title in the Gulf in as many weeks, it was Henin’s second straight three-setter in two days, having got past Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
“It was a tough match,” said Henin. “But I need these kind of matches to get my game up to the level I want. I don’t mind spending a long time on the court.” As in the quarterfinals, Henin would consider herself a trifle lucky as Jankovic struggled with her movement in the third set because of the ankle injury she had suffered during her semifinal match against Amelie Mauresmo in Dubai last week.
Jankovic played with her ankle strapped, but during the first and second sets didn’t show any signs of discomfort, matching the top seed shot for shot in cold and windy conditions.
With Doha battered by a severe sandstorm throughout the day, there was some uncertainty about the matches starting as scheduled, but the center court was almost packed, with several people wearing face masks to protect themselves from the dust.
Henin was also bothered by the conditions.
“It was very difficult out there especially because I wear contacts and it’s a problem when the sand gets into the eyes.” Jankovic, the winner in Auckland and finalist in Sydney this year, was broken in the very first game by Henin, but the Serb broke back in the eighth game to pull level.
The players traded breaks again before heading into the tie-breaker which Jankovic won, but not before Henin had clawed back from 0-4 down to win five points.
Henin then had a relatively easy second set, breaking Jankovic three times and staying alive in the match.
“I was in command in the second set,” said Henin. “My game really gave me confidence.” The decider saw the first three games going with serve, but amazingly the next seven games ended in breaks in a see-saw battle.
Jankovic needed to hold serve in the 10th game to stay in the match but by that time her ankle was giving her too much trouble and Henin capitalized on it to clinch the issue.
“The courts in Doha are slower than in Dubai,” said Henin. “Here you have to put a lot of power behind the ball so it’s not easy to play in Doha immediately after Dubai.” Jankovic said it had become difficult for her in the latter stages of the match.
“My ankle was painful, I was struggling to move around. I was lot slower than normal,” said the Serb, who has taken Henin to three sets in all the three matches they have played so far.
“I will have to consult a doctor before I play my next tournament,” added Jankovic.
