http://www.henin-hardenne.be/bin/index.asp?lang=en WTA Championships 06 - Ole SF Saturday! 10/11/2006: Justine returns to the WTA Championships semi-finals on Saturday. She was unable to participate these last two seasons, despite making the elite 8 player due to illness, and injury. The draw has been completed and Justine will face off with Maria Sharapova at 14:00 hrs and Kim Clijsters will take on Amelie Mauresmo in the second semi-final. Earlier today Justine played her final RR group match against Amelie Mauresmo. It was do or die for the Frenchwoman or she was out of the tournament, and she played with purpose defeating Justine. As with their previous matches there was no generic tennis on court. It was crafty masterful shot making, and strategy priorities over brute force. The Belgian heroine won the first set with solid tennis, but Mauresmo was playing for survival and took the intense second set tiebreaker thowing in anything and everything. The third set was very different as Justine, already a guaranteed semi-finalist, looked forward to Saturday. Final score: 6-4 6-7 2-6 Justine shared her thoughts after her Friday's match, and reviewed her own form this week. "I feel positive, I've been out of tour for two months. I'm content with the level of play that I reached this week. It is good. I served well, and pushed forward, my backhands are working too. I slowed myself down after the second set. It was an intense match, and the second set was very physical. After weeks of inactivity it wasn't easy." Friday's match gave Justine more court time. "I played well, but not enough in the end. I'm trying to gain match practice, strengthen my legs, and off course confidence. If it isn't already obvious, I'm doing this in a very short period of time. I started to play this week after a very serious injury, yes there was a risk, but today I'm reassured of my fitness. The injury doesn't bother me. And tomorrow I will have the opportunity of playing another match!" Justine's focus will be only on Maria Sharapova now. The American based Russian is on a winning streak, but Justine is ready for her. "If I didn't believe I could win or had lost earlier this week I would've already left for my flight. It's a semi-final, and regardless of who my adversary could be. I move on court well this week, I'm not injured. I have the right to have a bit of leeway, the season is almost over. I still will give the maximum, and I hope to do so in the next two matches. It was a huge challenge for me to be able to play here, I see where my tennis form is. I am not very near from my best level yet, and despite the loss today, I'm very pleased. I'm still improving the mental aspects of my game. I will show her that my motivations are enormous at home in Europe too. One of my main objective was to make the finals at the Masters (Madrid), and I have an opportunity now. She's in great form, and has alot of matches in her, but I'm relaxed because when I have my goals set, I always attain them." ALLEZ JUSTINE! -- juju這次真是很有氣勢阿！ --

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