Sunday, August 19, 2007 Henin boots out Petrova; plays qualifier in semis
TORONTO—Justine Henin advanced to the semifinals of the Rogers Cup with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over Nadia Petrova on Friday night.
She’ll play qualifier Yan Zi of China. The other semifinal is between Tatiana Golovin and second-seeded Jelena Jankovic after Golovin upset No. 3 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1. Jankovic defeated Virginie Razzano of France, 7-5, 6-2.
Jankovic struggled with her serve in the windy conditions.
“Today it was the strongest I had experienced,” Jankovic said. “I would toss (the ball) up and then it would go to the side or whatever. I was struggling to put it in the box. In a few games I made two double faults in a row, and that’s not the best thing.”
Yan became the first qualifier to reach the quarterfinals at the tournament in 11 years. She was leading 6-2, 3-0 when No. 7 Marion Bartoli of France retired with an illness.
“I’ve got a virus like a few players had during this tournament,” Bartoli said. “I couldn’t make it. I was just too tired, I don’t feel good at all. I was seeing the ball coming at the last second it was coming on me. I just couldn’t complete the match.”
Yan, ranked No. 169, upset defending champion Ana Ivanovic in the second round after winning the opener against Severine Bremond of France, 6-4, 6-0.
“I was here Saturday morning, and 9:35 they tell me I get in,” Yan said. “So I just go on court, no warm-up, just play. Then I win the match.”
The top-ranked Henin doesn’t know much about Yan’s game. But Henin knows she should be wary.
“The only thing I know is she’s in great confidence this week—if not, she wouldn’t be in the semis,” Henin said. “The ranking doesn’t mean anything now. We’re two girls who want the same thing, going to the finals.” (AP)
