Henin Goes For Broke in Miami (AP/Diaz)
After losing a very long yet entertaining first set to Caroline Wozniacki, Justine Henin used a medical timeout like a basketball timeout almost to change her strategy. And it worked as she found a way to take out the No.2 seed 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Wozniacki’s defense kept her around for most of the first set while Henin’s high unforced error count didn’t help her cause as she tried to stay with the Dane in very long rallies. During the second set at 3-3, Henin called for the trainer to work on her glutes. It was after that timeout that Henin decided to just go for broke on her shots and hit winners rather than hang with Wozniacki on the baseline. The change in tactics worked as she broke Wozniacki and ran off three straight games to tie up the match.
An early break in the third set was all Henin needed to assume control as she found the range on her serve and her forehand while cutting down on her unforced errors. Wozniacki, to her credit, amped her serving as well forcing Henin to serve for it at 5-4. But, as she did throughout, Henin went for big serves and big shots to quickly go up 40-0 finally winning the almost three hour match with a perfect down the line backhand winner. In all, Henin had 52 winners and 50 unforced errors.
Despite the loss, Wozniacki will remain No.2 in the WTA rankings. Henin will face in the semifinals either Sam Stosur or Kim Clijsters who play later tonight.
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This was a really fun match – Wozniacki had her chances, and I really thought she would take it after she secured the first set.
I hear Justine might be ranked as high as #23 if she wins Miami.
i watched the first set only, while i applaud caroline for her consistency play, it was justine who wasn’t consistent enough, too agressive in a few points resulted in losing the set. if justine would have been more patient, she would have taken the set. all in all, the match was in the hands of justine cos caroline hasn’t up or down her game, but when justine played well, carol was shut out, when justine played bad, carol took the chances.
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