• Australian Open, Day Nine

Henin powers into semi-finals

ESPN staff
January 26, 2010
Justine Henin has returned from 20 months in retirement to make the semi-finals © Getty Images
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Justine Henin's bid for a dream return to the game remains on track following a gritty 7-6(3) 7-5 win over Nadia Petrova in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

The Belgian came out of retirement at the turn of the year and the old desire and quality remains. She worked her way into the tournament during the first week but has stepped things up in the later stages and held her nerve to claim the opening set in a tie-break despite a host of service breaks.

Petrova found her form at the start of the second set and raced into a 3-0 lead. The Russian served at three games to the good but Henin hit back and after breaking won four games on the spin. Service holds were traded but at 6-5 down, Petrova buckled under pressure and Henin closed out the game in 111 minutes.

Belief is now coursing through Henin, who said: "This week, in this tournament I've been able to in the last few days to do it. It's probably the most important thing. Even if you know you're not playing your best tennis, being able in the tight moments to play good tennis like I did, I think it's the key mentally."

Henin had her serve broken on four occasions and is aware that she will have to step things up in the last four. "It was really difficult to find a rhythm, but when I had to play well, that's what I did."

Henin now faces Jie Zheng, who defeated Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-3 to book her second appearance at a Grand Slam semi-final after making the last four at Wimbledon in 2008.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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