Sports

Tuesday January 22, 2008

Sharapova out to end Henin’s 32-match winning streak

AUSTRALIAN OPEN, MELBOURNE JAN 14 - 27

Russian fifth seed Maria Sharapova is intent on ending world number one Justine Henin’s 32-match winning streak in a marquee quarter-final at the Australian Open today.

Third seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia faces a no less intimidating task as she faces defending champion Serena Williams, who is displaying rampant form and is determined to retain her title.

Going strong: Maria Sharapova has not dropped a set so far and is intent on beating world No.1 Justine Henin in the quarter-finals of the women’s singles today.
Sharapova said such epic match-ups were the reason she played tennis, relishing the prospect of downing the Belgian top seed who has dominated the women’s game for the past year.

The 20-year-old Russian is on a quest to make amends for her humiliating loss in the final to Williams last year and a win over top seed Henin would send a message to the tennis world that she is back at her best.

“She’s the one to beat,” Sharapova said.

“She’s on a pretty good winning streak but every match is a new match.

“That’s why in the morning the guys or girls go out and they put the net up. That’s why we play the matches.”

But Henin, whose winning run help deliver her the French and US Opens last year, believes she has the measure of power-hitters such as Sharapova, saying she could mix up her game to control the rhythm of matches.

“I can be powerful when I want. I’m not scared of the long rallies or of the girls hitting the ball hard because I know I can do it myself,” she said.

“But I can change the rhythms, I can use different things.”

The statistics back up the 2004 Australian champion, who has a 6-2 winning record over Sharapova, including a 2006 semi-final victory here and an epic three setter at the WTA Tour Championships in Madrid.

Both players are yet to drop a set in the tournament, with Sharapova losing only 16 games in total as she disposed of four opponents including former Australian champion Lindsay Davenport and 11th seed Elene Dementieva.

Serena Williams has also been in dominant form in the lead up to her quarter-final with Jankovic, monstering 12th seed Nicole Vaidisova in her last match in much the same way she accounted for the lanky Czech last year.

Williams also swept aside Jankovic on her way to the 2007 title and the 22-year-old Serb, who is battling fatigue and poor form, acknowledged she needed to dramatically improve to avoid a similar fate this year.

“I know that I have to play really, really great tennis if I want to win because she’s a strong girl. She’s stronger than me, twice my size, so it’s not so easy,” Jankovic said.

“Sometimes I feel like she’s going to blow me off the court. But I have to stay there and play my game and go for the win.”

Williams, looking leaner and fitter than last year, blasted down 15 aces in her third round match and said she knew her game could step up another level.

“I’m not even moving my fastest,” she said.

If anyone knows Serena’s game it is practice partner Venus, herself a quarter-finalist, who said her younger sister was in better shape than ever and always lifted for the big occasions.

“She’s obviously an incredible player. With the occasion, her game goes up to another level,” she said, adding that “I’d love for there to be Williamses in the final.”

On the other side of the draw, six-time Grand Slam champion Venus will meet Serbian fourth seed Ana Ivanovic and Czech ninth seed will meet Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, seeded 29.

Those matches are played on Wednesday. – AFP

Women's quarter-final

Justine Henin vs Maria Sharapova Jelena Jankovic vs Serena Williams Venus Williams vs Ana Ivanovic Daniela Hantuchova vs Agnieszka Radwanska

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll