Belgium wary of Mauresmo

ByEurosport

Published 26/01/2006 at 00:34 GMT

Belgian tennis fans will be hoping for a domestic double when the Australian Open Ladies semi-finals get under way on Thursday. Justine Henin-Hardenne is first up, taking on Maria Sharapova in the opening match, followed by Kim Clijsters against Amelie Ma

An all Belgian final would see a repeat of 2004, where Henin-Hardenne overcame her compatriot 6-3 in the third set to claim both the title and the number one spot in the world rankings.

However, both players will have to overcome stiff opposition to get there.

Sharapova(4) v Henin-Hardenne(8)

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TENNIS 2006 AUSTRALIAN OPEN 4R Sharapova

Image credit: Reuters

Maria Sharapova will be desperate to improve on last year's exit at the same stage where she lost to eventual champion Serena Williams. Indeed, she was to lose to the winner at all of the grand slams in 2005.

Despite a patchy performance against Nadia Petrova in her quarter-final match she will be confident of recapturing her imperious form of the earlier rounds that had seen her drop just 18 games in the first four rounds.

Unfortunately, the diminutive Belgian is sure to be full of confidence, having easily beaten the Russian in their previous two meetings, the last of which saw her emerge victorious in two sets on the clay of Roland Garros on the way to her fourth major title in 2005.

TENNIS 2006 AUSTRALIAN OPEN Henin-Hardenne

Image credit: dpa

Former French Open champion Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario told Eurosport feels that Justine will have the advantage because of the vicious sliced backhand she possesses, "keeping the ball low", and preventing the long-limbed Russian from getting into her rhythm off the ground.

However, she did have a word of warning for the Belgian.

"She will need to serve a lot better than she did against Davenport." But went on to add, "if she can stay aggressive she has opportunities to beat Sharapova".

Mauresmo(3) v Clijsters(2)

After a succession of near misses at grand slam tournaments there is a feeling that Amelie Mauresmo's win at the end-of-season Tour Championships in 2005 may at last have pave a way towards that elusive major win.

It as also worth noting that she also ended a seven match losing streak against Thurday's opponent during that championship with a straight sets win, perhaps the portents are finally in Mauresmo's favour.

Her progress so far in Melbourne has been nothing if not serene since her first round scare against China's Tiantian Sun and her form has meant that she has barely had to extend herself during her subsequent matches.

In contrast, Clijsters was certainly made to dig deep on Wednesday to overcome an inspired Martina Hingis, playing her first major championships for over three years, after losing a landslide second set, and being pushed all the way in the third.

Her charge towards this year's final has been tempered by injury concerns with her hip, although this seems to have caused her fewer problems as she has progressed through the rounds.

But with only one day to recover, Clijsters knows this match will be hard on her body.

TENNIS - 2006 Australian Open - Clijsters v Hingis 1/4F

Image credit: Reuters

"It might be tough," she told Eurosport after the Hingis match. "I felt pretty tired out there today."

"I will get some massage and hopefully will be OK."

She was also full of respect for her next opponent.

"She's a great player, and has a tough game to break through." She went on to add, "I'm going to try and give her everything I have."

For full coverage of the semi-finals, join us on eurosport.com from 03:30cet for all the excitement.

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