Semi-Final Preview

By Chris Davies
June 4 2003

The hottest semi-final's of this year with Kim Clijsters taking on Nadia Petrova and Justine Henin-Hardenne taking on the first person to defeat Serena Williams will be bidding to do it again

(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) v Nadia Petrova (RUS)

Petrova has had an amazing run beating Monica Seles in the first round then beating Jennifer Capriati at the fourth round stage and now is in her first Grand Slam semi-final and it couldn't get bigger than playing one of the in-form clay court stars this year Kim Clijsters. Clijsters has enjoyed a tremendous year which saw her winning the Adidas Internationl beating Lindsay Davenport then reaching the semi-final's of the Australian Open for the second successive year which she led Serena 5-2 in the third set but could not close it out. Then she lost to Sugiyama at the Scottsdale final but won the Masters Series at Indian Wells the week later then lost to Serena in the semi's of Nasdaq 100-Open pretty convincingly for the world number one. The clay court tournaments that Clijsters has played she has at least reached the finals, final at German Open losing to Justine Henin-Hardenne in a tight three set battle then beating Amelie Mauresmo the week later in the Italian Open Masters Series winning her first clay court title this year.

Now to the match which could live up to it's expectation of the unseeded Russian giving everything she has got after having a good run but nerves and the occassion could get the better of her has she is unexperienced in this stage of any tournament. Certainly Petrova has the weapons to beat Clijsters and carry on her run but it seems unlikely that this could happen unless the number 2 seed plays like she did against Maleeva in the 4th round. Both players have big serves and very powerful groundstrokes making this match an ideal clash for Clijsters before her Final against the big hitter Serena or Henin-Hardenne.

Clijsters won't storm away with the first set or the match and will have to be on tip top condition to sail through. But at the end of the day Kim will be prepared for anything and will know what Petrova is capable of winning in straight sets into her second Roland Garros final!

(1) Serena Williams (USA) v (4) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)

Williams and Henin-Hardenne have had a rather similar season's winning lots of matches and staying consistent since the Australian Open. Serena's first loss of the year came to the hands of Henin-Hardenne which was on clay in the final of Family Circle Cup in straight sets. Serena has won 3 tournaments this year Australian Open, Open Gaz de France and NasDaq 100 Open whereas Henin-Hardenne has won Family Circle Cup and German Open both on clay.

Williams is on fire has she said so herself after demolishing Mauresmo avenging her defeat to the Frenchwoman weeks ago and will now try to avenge her first defeat of the year to Henin-Hardenne which could possibly happen. Henin-Hardenne is a gritty player and very consistent with a superb backhand and net play which could determine the outcome of this match. Williams will come out all guns blazing with winners from all over the court but also unforced errors will start creeping in as the defending champion's game isn't always in first gear for the full match which allows her opponents back into it. Obviously physcologically Henin-Hardenne has the edge has she beat her on clay weeks ago and is also on fire herself which Williams knows very well. If the Belgian number 2 watches Clijsters before hand then inspiration could help her thorugh this match but the world number one is inspired and so determined not too lose making this a difficult match to predict.

It will go to three sets and I think Serena will win eventhough I'm not 100% certain. Let the best player win!