|
MELBOURNE: Justine Henin and Maria Sharapova set up a blockbuster
Australian Open quarterfinal on Sunday with comprehensive fourth
round maulings, as organizers defended the latest finish in Grand
Slam history.
World No. 1 and top seed Henin demolished
Taiwanese qualifier Hsieh Su-Wei 6-2, 6-2 in 74 minutes while fifth
seed Sharapova thrashed fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-0 in
just over an hour.
Despite her awesome form, Henin, who claimed the
Australian title in 2004, knows she needs to lift her game as the
business end of the tournament looms.
“Now it’s like another tourna-ment is going
to start. It’s going to be another level,” said the Belgian, who
is relishing a Sharapova show-down.
“I always know to beat her I have to be at my
best,” she said.
Sharapova was equally dominant against
Dementieva, the 11th seed, as she cranked up a gear in a warning to
Henin.
“Against someone that’s number one in the
world, someone who has a lot of confidence, you’ve got to take
your chances and take the opportunities because you won’t get
many, and if you do, you’ve really got to take them,” she said
of Henin. “I’m looking forward to it.”
-- AFP
|
