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Sports / Tennis
Henin and Serena ready for heavyweight clash
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-09-04 06:35
NEW YORK - The U.S. Open is set to come alive under the lights on Tuesday
night when world number one Justine Henin and Serena Williams clash in
the quarter-finals of a grand slam event for the third straight time.
The pair boast 14 grand slam titles between them but with top seed Henin
having beaten Williams at the same stage at both the French Open and
Wimbledon, the American will be gunning for revenge.
"I'm going in feeling like I don't have anything to lose," said eighth
seed Williams, who won her eighth grand-slam title at the Australian Open
in January.
"I just feel different now. Excited about the prospect of meeting her
again."
While Williams has battled through to the last eight without looking
fully convincing, 2003 winner Henin has stormed through the draw, losing
just 11 games in the process.
The Belgian won her sixth grand slam title at the French Open in June and
said she was relishing another meeting with two-times U.S. Open champion
Williams.
"I know everyone was waiting for that match, and here we are," she said.
"That's why I'm playing tennis, to play this kind of match. I'm very
happy I'm going play her, and I hope we can show good tennis. I think
it's great for me."
CLAY DOMINANCE
Henin's victory on clay at the French Open was expected, given her
dominance on the surface, but her win at Wimbledon was even more
impressive.
"It was important for me to beat her on another surface than clay, at
Wimbledon," she said.
"I know it's going to be different, a different surface. She's here at
home. She loves to play in the U.S. Open. It's going to be great.
"So I'm not really focused on what she's going to do. I'm just going to
try to do my job the best I can, try to be at my best level and the best
will win."
The relationship between the two has improved hugely since their
acrimonious semi-final clash at the French Open in 2003, when Williams
accused Henin of "lying and fabricating" after an incident when the
American had been denied a second serve.
"I like these contests, and there's a lot of respect now and everything
is fine," Henin said.
"We both have a lot of character and a lot of personality. We both have
been very strong mentally on the court and in the last few years. She won
grand slams -- I did. She's been number one and I've been."
Williams said Henin was unlike most other competitors.
"She's playing well and she's fighting for everything. She kind of
believes that she can win, and maybe that's what makes that special."
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