Stosur stops Henin run at French Open
Source: Agencies |
June 1, 2010, Tuesday
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SAM Stosur ended Justine Henin's hopes for a comeback victory at the French Open, converting her second match point yesterday for a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory in the fourth round.
Needing one point to secure the upset win, Stosur wavered, hitting a double-fault. The Australian took a deep breath and tried again. This time she launched a confident serve into the corner, setting her up for an overhead slam to seal the biggest victory of her career.
Stosur ended the four-time French Open champion's streak of 24 consecutive victories at Roland Garros. Stosur's opponent in the quarterfinals will be top-ranked Serena Williams, who beat Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-2.
No. 3-seeded Novak Djokovic eliminated the last American in the men's draw, beating Robby Ginepri 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Henin's defeat was her first in the tournament since 2004. She was playing at Roland Garros for the first time since ending a 20-month retirement, and looked like a title contender in the early rounds.
But after taking a 4-3 lead in the final set against Stosur, Henin showed signs of nerves and was betrayed by her elegant backhand.
Serving at 4-all, the Belgian double-faulted to reach break point, then yanked a backhand wide. In the final game she pushed three backhands into the net, including a potential putaway on the first point.
In the final two sets, Stosur had a 20-8 edge in winners and was 4 for 5 converting break-point chances.
"I knew what I had to do," she said. "I kept going for it and I believed in myself."
As for that double-fault on the next-to-last point?
"I just tried to shake it off and tried to have a laugh at myself, not worry about it and get the next one in," Stosur said.
The 26-year-old Stosur has won 18 matches on clay this year, the most on the women's tour.
She was a Roland Garros semifinalist last year and is ranked a career-best No. 7 - the highest ranking for an Australian-born woman since Wendy Turnbull in 1985.
Williams advanced easily, looking shaky only after her fourth-round victory, when she tried to speak French to the crowd. "I get so nervous," she told the interviewer with a giggle in English when she was done. Otherwise, she advanced smoothly to the quarterfinals.
"I seem to always be able to turn it up during this particular stage," Williams said. "Hopefully I turn it up again."
She complained of dizziness from a cold following a seesaw three-set win in her previous match, but the only wobble against the No. 18-seeded Peer came at the start. Williams lost the first seven points, then swept nine in a row.
From 2-all, Williams won five consecutive games to take charge of the match.
Afterward, she was interviewed courtside by former French player Cedric Pioline.
"I love Paris," she told the crowd in French. "My game is better. I hope I'm going to win."
Stosur's win spoiled the prospect of a showdown between longtime rivals Williams and Henin. Instead, Williams will meet Stosur.
"You can never underestimate anyone, and Sam is actually a wonderful clay court player," Williams said.
"She's someone you can't overlook."
Djokovic's next opponent will be No. 22 Jurgen Melzer, a first-time grand slam quarterfinalist playing in his 32nd major event.
The Austrian advanced by beating qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
On a rainy Sunday, fourth-seeded Andy Murray of Britain was left frustrated by the playing conditions as he was beaten 4-6, 5-7, 3-6 by Tomas Berdych in the fourth round.
Needing one point to secure the upset win, Stosur wavered, hitting a double-fault. The Australian took a deep breath and tried again. This time she launched a confident serve into the corner, setting her up for an overhead slam to seal the biggest victory of her career.
Stosur ended the four-time French Open champion's streak of 24 consecutive victories at Roland Garros. Stosur's opponent in the quarterfinals will be top-ranked Serena Williams, who beat Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-2.
No. 3-seeded Novak Djokovic eliminated the last American in the men's draw, beating Robby Ginepri 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Henin's defeat was her first in the tournament since 2004. She was playing at Roland Garros for the first time since ending a 20-month retirement, and looked like a title contender in the early rounds.
But after taking a 4-3 lead in the final set against Stosur, Henin showed signs of nerves and was betrayed by her elegant backhand.
Serving at 4-all, the Belgian double-faulted to reach break point, then yanked a backhand wide. In the final game she pushed three backhands into the net, including a potential putaway on the first point.
In the final two sets, Stosur had a 20-8 edge in winners and was 4 for 5 converting break-point chances.
"I knew what I had to do," she said. "I kept going for it and I believed in myself."
As for that double-fault on the next-to-last point?
"I just tried to shake it off and tried to have a laugh at myself, not worry about it and get the next one in," Stosur said.
The 26-year-old Stosur has won 18 matches on clay this year, the most on the women's tour.
She was a Roland Garros semifinalist last year and is ranked a career-best No. 7 - the highest ranking for an Australian-born woman since Wendy Turnbull in 1985.
Williams advanced easily, looking shaky only after her fourth-round victory, when she tried to speak French to the crowd. "I get so nervous," she told the interviewer with a giggle in English when she was done. Otherwise, she advanced smoothly to the quarterfinals.
"I seem to always be able to turn it up during this particular stage," Williams said. "Hopefully I turn it up again."
She complained of dizziness from a cold following a seesaw three-set win in her previous match, but the only wobble against the No. 18-seeded Peer came at the start. Williams lost the first seven points, then swept nine in a row.
From 2-all, Williams won five consecutive games to take charge of the match.
Afterward, she was interviewed courtside by former French player Cedric Pioline.
"I love Paris," she told the crowd in French. "My game is better. I hope I'm going to win."
Stosur's win spoiled the prospect of a showdown between longtime rivals Williams and Henin. Instead, Williams will meet Stosur.
"You can never underestimate anyone, and Sam is actually a wonderful clay court player," Williams said.
"She's someone you can't overlook."
Djokovic's next opponent will be No. 22 Jurgen Melzer, a first-time grand slam quarterfinalist playing in his 32nd major event.
The Austrian advanced by beating qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
On a rainy Sunday, fourth-seeded Andy Murray of Britain was left frustrated by the playing conditions as he was beaten 4-6, 5-7, 3-6 by Tomas Berdych in the fourth round.
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