Justine Henin-Hardenne Clinches No. 1 Ranking, Upsets Maria Sharapova
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Nov 11, 2006 | Print
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Justine Henin-Hardenne accomplished two goals this afternoon in Madrid, Spain - and both of them in a grand style.
Henin-Hardenne, the world’s No. 3 player, defeated 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova 6-2, 7-6 (5) for a spot in the Sony Ericsson Championships final and the world’s number one ranking.
Sharapova’s loss ends her nineteen match winning streak, with her last loss coming in August at the JPMorgan Chase Open in Los Angeles.
Henin-Hardenne was just three points away from a spot in the final - and the number one ranking - when a poor service game cost her the win on her racquet at 5-3 in the second. Maria clawed her way back into the match, forced a tiebreak, but Justine refused to surrender the win and closed the match out, on her serve, 6-2, 7-6 (5).
By virtue of her victory today, Henin-Hardenne will vault to the top spot when the new rankings are released on Monday regardless of how well she does in the final tomorrow. In order for Sharapova to have taken the top spot, she needed to have Justine lose in the semifinal and capture the title.
Justine is no stranger to the number one ranking - she has held it for a total of forty-five weeks already and with the 2006 season ending on Sunday, she will at least add another six weeks to her record.
Henin-Hardenne will play the winner of the Amelie Mauresmo/Kim Clijsters semifinal in tomorrow’s Championship match in Madrid.
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momofan | Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
ALLEZ AMELIE!
Shame the No. 1 ranking had to go the LBTQ, but I am soooo proud of my girl for making it to the final after not playing for such a long time and losing the opportunity to end the year no. 1. You go, girl!
Just hope the final’s a good one, and CURSE THE TV GODS FOR NOT AIRING IT LIVE!
Sapphisto | Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
ALLEZ AMELIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such a champion.
And here’s to the choker-jokers:
*blows a big old raspberry*
Brant | Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
not happy… discusted in fact