http://www.henin-hardenne.be/bin/index.asp?lang=en CHARLESTON: Rights of Passage 14/04/2006: Justine safely made her passage through talented Croatian Karolina Sprem on Thursday 6-4 6-4 in the 3rd round. It wasn't fluent beautiful clay court tennis, but an important step toward that direction. The Belgian champion will next play Dinara Safina (Marat's younger sister) in Friday's quarterfinal to be played about 15:00 hrs (est) on center court. "It was a different kind of match because she was hitting the ball very hard, and there wasn't a lot of rhythm, so the conditions were very different from what it was two days ago because here it was hot and the clay was faster, so the game was, yeah, it was pretty fast, and I had to adjust a little bit, but when I had to serve well in the first and in the second I did, but sometimes I lose a little bit my concentration, but it's very important to win this kind of match in two sets, and I'm in the quarters, so that's very good" - Justine It was the first match meeting between Justine, and Karolina Sprem; the Croatian made a name for herself by defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2004 during the 2nd round. The Belgian tornado started out strongly in the opening games of the first set with a good Henin-Hardenne standard of 65% first serves. Karolina is typical of many young players on tour that find their range, and comfort zone best when pounding from the baseline. The rallies were hard hitting, but eager Sprem wasn't consistent enough. Justine allowed Karolina no breakpoints, yet happily took the invitation to break the Croatian's service games. The 2x Roland Garros champion won the first set 6-4. "I think, you know, mistakes are part of the game. Sometimes you do unforced errors, and on clay it's hard to do a lot of winners, especially in the first match. It's only my first tournament. You cannot ask me to be in my best level on my second match back on clay court. So I think it's good to keep winning, and then if you can play very well, it's fine, but just stay concentrated on the most important thing, the victory" - Justine Justine sailed away to a 4-1 lead after losing her service game at 1-1 in the early part of the second set. The Croation's errors, double faults, and general erratic play forced Justine to be stern on the baseline. Nothing too adventurous or flowing, but the Belgian virtuoso managed a gritty hold of this second set for 5-2. Too greedy, and looking far too ahead Justine dropped her serve as Karolina fought back to 5-4. Clarity back, and level headedness the reigning Roland Garros champion had her best service game on offer at 40-0 to win her first match point. The game, set, and match went to Justine 6-4 6-4. Justine def. Karolina Sprem 6-4 6-4. Justine will next play Dinara Safina, ranked number 20. They've played twice, and their last meeting was in 2004 at Amelia Island. The queen of Roland Garros won that green clay match in two sets 6-4 7-6(8-6). "You know, the paper is one thing, but when you're on the court, it's a different story, and for sure it's easier to play someone, I mean, from the Top 5 or the Top 10 than to play someone that is 90 in the world like today because I know that she's going to give everything because she doesn't have any pressure. But you know, right now I'm in the quarters. That's not because I'm the first seed in the tournament that I will have to win this. It will be too easy. You just have to prove it on the court, and it's not all the time very easy to do that" - Justine --

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