Justine Henin is through to an Australian Open quarter-final for the first time since 2008, beating countrywoman Yanina Wickmayer 7-6(3) 1-6 6-3 on Sunday night.
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The first set was a study in how a Grand Slam fourth round match should be played. Both women hung on determinedly to their service games with some impressive shot-making, Wickmayer coming closest to making a breakthrough when she held three separate set points on Henin’s serve in the 11th game.
Henin rose to the challenge however, lifting to play five brilliant points to force the game to a tie-break, and another five when the breaker was locked up at three points-all to take a one-set lead.
Wickmayer came out of her chair at a run at the start of the second set, and played in similar fashion, getting 80 per cent of first serves in, breaking the Henin serve on three consecutive occasions and striking eight clean winners, the majority from booming forehand wing. She raced through the set 6-1, setting up a thrilling decider.
Against the run of play, the tables turned in the third set, Henin racing to a 2-0 lead with her sweeping cross-court backhand really starting to find its mark. Wickmayer continued to press with her Steffi Graf-reminiscent forehand, taking the former world No.1 to deuce in the eighth game of the set, but fell just short of getting the decider back onto level terms.
Trailing 3-5, Wickmayer fought to the last point, continuing to hit the big groundstrokes that had served her so well in the match. Ultimately the younger Belgian ended up winning more points - 96 to 93 - and committing 12 fewer unforced errors than Henin, but still she unable to roll her childhood hero. Henin clinched the match after 133 minutes when she pounded a forehand into the corner to force a netted reply from Wickmayer.
It was a relieved Henin who faced the press after the contest. “Well, it wasn't that easy,” said the Belgian, who will remain without a world ranking until she has completed three tournaments. “Of course, the first set asked me (for) a lot of energy and a lot of intensity. Then the beginning of the second set, I slow down a little bit. She didn't give me a lot of points at that time. She played very good tennis. I got the opportunity to start (the third set) pretty well, and that's what I did.”
Henin said she was happy with the way her new, proactive, game style was starting to pay off. “The way I play, more aggressive, coming to the net, I think my game at the net is just better than it was before. I just need to be brave enough to do it. That's what I did on the important points today.”
She said she was delighted to have earned a quarter-final meeting with giant-killing No.19 seed Nadia Petrova. “Really it's a great feeling to be in the quarters. I was expecting a tough match. That happened. I'm glad I could come through. Nadia is a tough player, a real fighter, so I know I'll have to play my best tennis if I want to go to the semis.
“I played her in Brisbane (and) it was a very good match, very good quality. (Coach) Carlos (Rodriguez) told me that day that she would do a good Australian circuit because she was in good shape already. Now in this tournament she's in confidence. She played a great match against Kim (Clijsters), got more confidence today against (Svetlana) Kuznetsova, so I know it's going to be a big fight.”
While aware that she had missed three golden opportunities in the opener, Wickmayer was philosophical about her loss.
“I had my chances in the first set,” said the 20-year-old, who won through three rounds of qualifying to earn her main draw berth at Australian Open 2010. “I started off a little nervous. It was new for me, playing on that court. I’m glad of the way I handled the pressure and glad of the way I handled that match.
“Of course I’m disappointed. I had my chances in the first set and could have served a little better in the third set, but I’m glad with the way I played. I felt today that I’m really close to playing great tennis, and I can see what still needs to be done with my game. It’s a great motivation for me.”
Fast facts
- Both women served four aces during the match.
- Henin struck 33 winners to 29 from Wickmayer.
- Wickmayer had more break points during the match (nine to Henin’s five), converting on four occasions to Henin’s three.
- Henin clocked the fastest serve of the match at 183km/h.
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