Justine Henin has assured herself of a spot in the semifinals of the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The Belgian tennisplayer defeated Russian Nadia Petrova in straight sets 7-6, 6-3.
Henin now faces China’s Zi Yan who’s opponent, French Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, retired from the match at 6-2 and 3-0 for Zi Yan.
Marion Bartoli retired with a nasty virus that also kept some other players from playing their best.
“I’ve got a virus like a few players had during this tournament,” Bartoli said. “I couldn’t make it. I was just too tired, I don’t feel good at all. I was seeing the ball coming at the last second it was coming on me. I just couldn’t complete the match.”
In the other semifinal French Tatiana Golovin plays Serbian Jelena Jankovic.
Jankovic told that she was struggling under the windy weather conditions.
“Today it was the strongest I had experienced,” Jankovic said. “I would toss (the ball) up and then it would go to the side or whatever. I was struggling to put it in the box. In a few games I made two double faults in a row, and that’s not the best thing.”
Looking forward to the Yan match, Henin said she did not know much about the Chinese and was unfamiliar with the playingstyle.
“The only thing I know is she’s in great confidence this week — if not, she wouldn’t be in the semis,” Henin said. “The ranking doesn’t mean anything now. We’re two girls who want the same thing, going to the finals.”
