Henin Stay On Course For Wimbledon Glory

The match everyone had been waiting for produced a tussle worth seeing and a win for Justine Henin on Centre Court today. Her much-anticipated quarter-final against Serena Williams was a finely balanced affair for two sets, but in the third the Belgian eased away to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. She will play Marion Bartoli in the semi-finals.

This match followed directly on from Venus Williams' shock triumph over Maria Sharapova. When it began, many were wondering if Wimbledon might once again be heading for an all-Williams final, as in the old times. Certainly many people had forecasted that the winner of the Henin-Williams quarter-final would be the player to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.

After all, these players had shared the year's two previous Slam tournaments between them, and they were the only two women left in the draw to have won more than one tournament this year.

Wimbledon is the only Slam crown yet to elude Henin, while Williams has two SW19 wins filed away. But how would Serena perform following her dramatic collapse with agonising cramp on Monday during her fourth round win over Daniela Hantuchova? She arrived on the Centre Court today with her left calf strapped - but it was the strapping on her left hand that was ultimately to prove the clue to her defeat.

With the very first point, this match was serious. A Williams volley hit Henin in the face but there seemed to be no acknowledging gesture of apology from the American. It signalled what was to come, with the two of them pummelling the life out of the ball and flirting with the tramlines. Clearly this was a far more energised Williams than the player who put up such a disappointing display when these two last met, in the quarter-finals of the French Open a month ago.

The set looked titanic, destined to go all the way - but it didn't. Instead it hinged on a horribly anti-climactic break of serve, which was all about errors from Williams. First she netted an easy backhand volley to give Henin two points for 5-4. Alas, she then chose the wrong shot at the net, was easily lobbed, and the damage was done. Henin served out with comparative ease, and now it looked a steep mountain indeed for Williams.

At the start of the second, Williams, who was limited to just a gentle hit yesterday rather than a full workout, seemed frustrated, frequently chastising herself out loud. Nonetheless, her speed around the court appeared hampered only when she was obliged to change direction suddenly. Naturally this was a tactic Henin deployed to productive effect.

Yet Williams broke Henin for 4-2 when the Belgian sent a forehand way too long; but if anything the break seemed to throw Williams off balance, and she found herself 0-40 down next game. Serena saved two but was outgunned on the third. Next game a Henin forehand flew wide and Williams had the chance to break again. She clinched it when uncharacteristically the Belgian sent a backhand into the net. Serving for the set, Williams sealed it with an ace - called out by the line judge, but proven to be good when Hawk-Eye supported Serena's challenge.

In the deciding set, Henin wobbled on her service in the opening game, yet held. But when she got a chance of her own in the next game, she forced the break. Williams made her work for 3-0, but the Belgian got there. At 4-1 when Henin held to love, it looked dangerously as if Williams had finally run out of juice. Her calf was clearly tightening, and Henin grabbed the double break.

But then the Belgian suddenly rushed her game and made some crucial errors. Williams clambered from the turf where she had fallen in mid-point to get one of the breaks back. But that taped left hand was clearly troubling Williams on her double-fisted backhand, and when she sent one long it brought up match point for Henin.

It seemed she must win but she flunked an easy volley. A super Henin serve brought up a second opportunity, and the Williams backhand gave way again to end the match.

Written by Kate Battersby