Kim Clijsters © Getty Images

Clijsters Downs Myskina, Henin-Hardenne Defeats Defending Champ Mauresmo

August 20, 2005 - In a masterful centre court battle Saturday night, French Open champ Justine Henin-Hardenne downed two-time Rogers Cup champ Amelie Mauresmo 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 in a match that had the crowd enthralled.

From get-go both women came out swinging. Henin-Hardenne took the closely contested first set. In the second, Mauresmo changed the pace, came to net and forced the No. 4 seed into a string of errors.

Mauresmo continued to dominate, breaking Henin-Hardenne in the first game of the third set. But Henin-Hardenne broke right back, found her footing and reeled off five games in a row to close out the match in two hours and eight minutes.

After the match, Henin-Hardenne , who won the Rogers Cup in 2003, said of the third set turnaround: ?I just kept fighting and tried to stay in the match. Then I found my game. I am happy to be back in the finals here.?

The Sunday final of the Rogers Cup presented by American Express can be titled ? The Battle of the Belgians? as Henin-Hardenne takes on compatriot Kim Clijsters in the 2 o'clock championship match at the Rexall Centre.

Belgium's Kim Clijsters, the No. 7 seed at the Rogers Cup presented by American Express, is through to the finals with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Russian Anastasia Myskina.

In an entertaining match that featured some of the best points of the tournament, Clijsters got stronger as the match progressed.

?I was starting to feel better and better the longer it went,? said Clijsters, who is now in her third final in four weeks.?This is my first final in Toronto and I am really happy to be in it.?

Without question, Clijsters has regained the form that earned her the No.1 ranking in 2003. This year, she has won a Sony Ericsson Tour-leading five titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Eastbourne, Stanford and Los Angeles.

Clijsters plays the winner of tonight's 6:30 p.m. semifinal pitting defending Rogers Cup presented by American Express champion Amelie Mauresmo against No. No. 4 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne.

The stars of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour will debut at the world class Rexall Centre in Toronto as part of the Rogers Cup, presented by American Express, August 13–21st. Purchase your tickets online or call 1-877-2-TENNIS ext. 4333.

MORE NEWS +