Unseeded Belgian Henin defeats China’s Zheng Jie in Australian Open semi-final
By ANIThursday, January 28, 2010
MELBOURNE - Unseeded Belgian tennis star Justine Henin will face defending champion Serena Williams in the Australian Open final after thrashing Zheng Jie 6-1 6-0 in their semi-final.
Henin, who retired in May 2008, has made the most of being granted a wildcard to compete in her first grand slam since the 2008 Australian Open and will face No.1 seed and defending champion Serena Williams in the final.
The seven-times grand slam winner, most recently at the US Open in 2007, was simply too good for her unseeded Chinese opponent, winning the last 12 games of the match on her way to a win in just 51 minutes.
“The dream continues,” Henin said.
“I am going to play the No.1 and defending champion. I wasn’t sure about what I would feel on the court and how things would go. I have just enjoyed my tennis and taken it step by step. I can’t wait for the final now, it is an amazing feeling,” Fox Sports quoted Henin, as saying.
It will be the 27-year-old’s third appearance in the Australian Open final, having won the tournament in 2004 and been beaten by Amelie Mauresmo in the 2006 final, when she retired due to illness after losing the first set.
Henin is the first wildcard to reach the Australian Open final and is on track to emulate the comeback of countrywoman Kim Clijsters, who capitalised on a wildcard to win the 2009 US Open in her first grand slam after returning from retirement. (ANI)
