05 settembre 2003
US Open
In an epic three hour, three minute match of will, strength and courage,
Justine Henin-Hardenne overcame severe leg cramps and defeated a heartbroken
Jennifer Capriati, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) to advance to an all-Belgian 2003 US
Open Women's Final against Kim Clijsters.
The prime-time final, scheduled to begin at 8 PM on Saturday night, is a
rematch of the 2003 French Open final, a match won by Henin-Hardenne in
straight sets, 6-0, 6-4.
"It hurts, it's very disappointing, but what can I do, that's the way it
went," said a surprisingly upbeat Capriati after the match. "You have
to give her credit with the way she was feeling that she stayed out there
and tried to win. It was my match to win, but I guess I just beat myself."
Henin-Hardenne, who was injured trying to push off her left leg serving in
the third set, crumpled to the ground when Capriati's ball landed safely in
the back in the net.
Will Henin-Hardenne have anything left by the time Saturday's final begins?
"It's very late, almost one o'clock in the morning. I just need a good sleep.
We'll see, I'll just come on the court and do my best," said Henin-Hardenne.
Going up two breaks in the first set featuring the prettiest backhand in
women's tennis, Henin-Hardenne appeared strong, bending her knees low,
getting up under the ball, putting everything in her small frame behind it.
Hitting the ball crisply, Capriati was discouraged as Henin-Hardenne was
getting a beat on every ball, and hitting clean winners on the lines.
Mixing it up to
try to throw off Henin-Hardenne, Capriati charged to the net on angled
approaches, so she was able to cut off returns from from her apt opponent
and ease it over the net for winners. Using this intelligent strategy,
Capriati gained a break back, and eventually the first set, 6-4.
After crafting one of her best comebacks in recent memory, Capriati served
for the match for at 5-3. With so much history of trouble in three-set
affairs, the crowd became uneasy as Capriati began pelting four straight
unforced errors into the net.
When all she needed to do was get the ball in play, Capriati crumbled.
Henin-Hardenne leveled the match at 5-5 in the second set, two hours and
forty-eight minutes into the match, and would win take the set, 7-5.
Writhing in pain as her left leg cramps worsened serving at 5-6 in the third
set, Henin-Hardenne staved off elimination, sending the match into a
decisive third set tie-break.
3rd set tie-break
Capriati volleys into the net, 1-0, Henin-Hardenne
Forehand error from Capriati, 2-0, Henin-Hardenne
Backhand error from Capriati, 3-0 Henin-Hardenne
Backhand winner from Capriati, 3-1 Henin-Hardenne
Forehand error from Capriati, 4-1 Henin-Hardenne
Forehand error into the net from Capriati, 5-1 Henin-Hardenne
Forehand volley winner from Capriati, 5-2 Henin-Hardenne
Lob error from Capriati, 6-2 Henin-Hardenne
Backhand error into net from Henin, 6-3 Henin-Hardenne
Backhand error wide from Henin, 6-4 Henin-Hardenne
Volley error into the net from Capriati, Henin wins, 7-4.
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