World No. 1 Justine Henin recovered from a disastrous start to
fend off an upset attempt by Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in three
sets to advance to the quarterfinals of the Antwerp Diamond Games
tournament on Thursday.
But world No. 6 and No. 2 seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia was
sent packing on Thursday.
Henin lost the first set 6-7 to the 76th-ranked Pironkova, and
was behind 1-3 in the second set before winning five consecutive
games to take the set 6-3. In the deciding set, Henin crushed her
20-year-old opponent 6-1.
This was the first time that Henin played in front of her home
fans in five years. She last played the tournament in 2003 when she
lost to compatriot Kim Clijsters in the semifinals.
In Friday's quarterfinals, Henin will take on Russian Alisa
Kleybanova, who defeated Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine in three
tough sets earlier Thursday.
In other actions on Thursday, Chakvetadze, fresh off victory in
Paris last week, was upset by Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson, who will
play No. 9 seed Li Na of China in the quarterfinals.
Swiss player Timea Bacsinszky beat American Julie Ditty 7-5, 6-4
to set up a quarterfinal clash with No. 3 seed Daniela Hantuchova
of Slovakia.
The other quarterfinal pits Italian Karin Knapp against Swiss
veteral Patty Schnyder.
This will be the final year of the 600,000-US-dollar Antwerp
tournament after a WTA calendar revision which will take effect in
2009.
(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2008)