Justin Henin proved she is a genuine contender for this year's Australian Open title after she beat fifth seed Elena Dementieva in straight sets yesterday.
Justin Henin proved she is a genuine contender for this year's Australian Open title after she beat fifth seed Elena Dementieva in straight sets yesterday.
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Justine Henin. Pic/Getty Images |
The seven-time major winner has been touted as a possible winner after returning from 20 months on the sidelines to reach the final in Brisbane a fortnight ago, and strengthened her claims after winning 7-5, 7-6, (8-6) in the second-round match.
Henin's fellow recently-returned Belgian, Kim Clijsters, also booked her passage to the third round along with top seeds Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Carolin Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic. But for Henin it was an emotional night as the Belgian proved to herself she could yet claim her second title at Melbourne Park. "It was a great match. It was very emotional for me on the court at the end because there was so much intensity," she said. "To play this kind of a match in the second round, for me, after two years off in a Grand Slam, it's just the kind of situation that I needed.
