Justine Snaps Maria's Streak, Amelie Rallies Past Kim http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?contentid=992 MADRID, Spain - Two players who have dominated the Grand Slam circuit this year will fittingly square off for the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships title, after both Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne held off valiant challenges in Saturday's semifinals. With her intense win over Maria Sharapova, Henin-Hardenne also secured the year-end world No.1 ranking. Henin-Hardenne and Sharapova were the first pair to do battle Saturday afternoon, and the conclusion of the 62 76(5) win was nothing short of high drama. Henin-Hardenne blazed through the opening set in just 34 minutes and raced out to a 5-3 lead in the second set. In those situations, Sharapova has been known to bring out her best, and this time was no different. She broke back and held for 5-all then rallied her way into a tie-break. There just wasn't enough gas left in the tank once there, however; she quickly fell behind 4-1, and although she managed to close in somewhat to 6-4, it was all over two points later. "I felt a little sluggish," said Sharapova, the only player this week to win all three of her round robin matches, and all in straight sets, no less. "And I tried. I mean from 5-3, I tried to find a way. I did feel like I was getting better towards the end of the match, but I still don't feel like my concentration was quite there. I could put two, three points together. And against someone like Justine, that's not good." "I was a little bit nervous at the end to conclude the match but I'm very happy the way I played," said Henin-Hardenne, who was coming off a loss in her last round robin match, on Friday against Mauresmo. "The key for me yesterday was that I came out of the court and said there were many positives, just take these and build something for tomorrow. I just turned the page very quickly. I knew what I had to improve if I wanted to win today. I'm a competitor. When I play for nothing, like yesterday, it's probably harder for me." Henin-Hardenne had already qualified for the semifinal round when she faced Mauresmo, and so for her the match didn't have much impact; but she certainly upped her level Saturday. And by reaching the final, the Belgian also guaranteed herself of a return to the No.1 ranking when the year-end list is released Monday, her first time at the top in over two years, since the 2004 US Open fortnight. "It's going to be me and I'm very happy about that," Henin-Hardenne continued. "It's not easy to get to the finals of all four Grand Slams, and that's what I did. I've been very consistent, and I'm now in the final again. 2006 is almost done, and when I look back, I see only good things, even when I think about my tough matches in the Grand Slam finals. It's probably the best season of my career; I'll enjoy it in the next two months." "She's been in the finals of all the Grand Slams this year," added Sharapova. "She's been very consistent. The wins take care of the rankings - they don't lie." Sharapova heads home with her season-best 19-match win streak snapped, but her head held high when thinking back to what was arguably her best season to date, winning her second Grand Slam title at the US Open as well as claiming a flurry of other hardcourt titles. "I've had an amazing year. I don't know what I'll be, No.2 or 3, but it's probably the highest I've finished in my career. When you lose it's always disappointing, but at the end of the day I have a month and a half off. I'm happy with the way I've been playing lately, and I hope I can improve and take that into next year. "The only disappointment I have is from the match, not because I didn't become No.1." Henin-Hardenne becomes the first player since Steffi Graf in 1993 to reach the finals at all four majors and the season-ending Championships. The German was a runner-up to Monica Seles at the Australian Open and swept the other titles. -- 這篇新聞主要擷取兩人的訪問稿 可以看看 原來女神Graf 93已經就是四大滿貫決賽加上年終決賽 重點還只輸了一次 不過現在不像當時啦 so juju還是很厲害 今天加油！ --

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