http://www.henin-hardenne.be/bin/index.asp?lang=en ROLAND GARROS: Razor's Edge 08/06/2006: Justine defeated long time rival compatriot Kim Clijsters 6-3 6-2 in a performance that would make any member of a hospital's elite surgical unit smile. The debonair Belgian produced razor edge forehands, deep slices, crisp serves and immaculate backhands which left nothing to chance. Clijsters the number #2 seed was outplayed by brilliance. The 2x Roland Garros champion will face off with Svetlana Kuznetsova on Saturday for the big finale. "When you play a semifinal at a Grand Slam, it's not an easy game. There's a lot of tension, and there's a lot of pressure. The same will happen on Saturday. So I tried to transform this pressure into something that takes you forward and not something negative, something that allows you to construct and to build. That's what I'm going to try to do up until Saturday" - Justine The build up for this match in Belgium was immense as the country rejoiced in seeing two of their brightest young sporting stars back on the international center stage together. The nature of Justine's performance against Kim Clijsters in their 20th match was highly reminiscent not of their previous grand slam encounters, but to matches by her idol Steffi Graf. There simply was no room for Clijsters as Justine reigned. The first set started out clean, brisk, and of ultra high tennis standards. As the games grew a bit longer Justine's controlled forehands, and sliced returns pressured Kim. The games followed this pattern from the first set to the second set. Clijsters was pinned back on the baseline with no answers to deep sliced shots from Justine. There was nothing to do in the latter stages of the 2nd set for Clijsters except looking discouraged as even her solid serves were wilting under crucial points pressure. The greatest clay court player of her generation won in two sets 6-3 6-2 in 1 hour and 9 minutes. Justine will play Svetlana Kuznetsova who won her 3 set semi-final against on the move Nicole Vaidisova. Paris will be burning this Saturday as Justine will attempt to win her third Roland Garros against a competitor who's forehand is as lethal as her own 1-handed backhand. --

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