[新聞] Belgians pose threat in Paris
http://www.eurosport.com/tennis/roland-garros/2006/sport_sto890644.shtml
Belgians pose threat in Paris
Amelie Mauresmo was deservedly announced as French Open number one seed on
Monday, but there is no doubt where the French player's main threat will come
from when the tournament gets started on Sunday - neighbours Belgium.
Reigning champion Justine Henin-Hardenne and compatriot Kim Clijsters are two
names sure give the French number one a run for her money on the clay of
Roland Garros.
And the pair head into this year's tournament in Paris with the experience of
having finally won Grand Slam titles, something they could not claim a year
ago.
Henin-Hardenne finally broke her Grand Slam duck in 2005, bagging the French
Open title against French player Mary Pierce, and taking her record on clay
to an exemplary 24 victories on the bounce in the process.
Unfortunately, the player from Liege - who turns 24 in the first week of
action this year - has not been able to carry on where she left off last
season, and is yet to win a tournament on the red stuff in 2006.
She did however reach the final at the WTA event in Berlin, beating rival
Mauresmo on the way, and showing the kind of form that could yet bring her
another title in the suburbs of Paris.
Henin-Hardenne eventually lost to Nadia Petrova in the final, but the victory
over Mauresmo was her sixth career win over a reigning number one player;
conclusive proof if there ever was any that the Belgian is capable, on her
day, of beating the very best.
CLIJSTERS: "100%"
The same can be said for compatriot Clijsters, who has already picked up a
claycourt title this year, in Warsaw at the beginning of the month, playing
against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final.
The victory gave Clijsters the enviable honour of having won at least two
titles on all four surfaces, and took the Belgian closer to regaining the
number one ranking.
But the 22-year-old - who will also celebrate her birthday during this year's
tournament in Paris - crashed out in the third round in Rome a fortnight
later and was denied taking back the top spot by eventual winner Dinara
Safina.
Despite her success on clay - including two runners-up places at Roland
Garros - the surface remains Clijsters' least favourite.
But the world number two is determined to give it her best shot, safe in the
knowledge that she is powerful enough to overcome all-comers.
"It's a motivation for me to find my game on clay," said Clijsters. "It's my
least favourite surface and it's a challenge to make my game work on it.
"I can play my game on hardcourt like I want to play it. On clay, it's a lot
different. The movement is a lot tougher for me.
"But I keep playing my own game because I'm powerful enough to get through my
opponents with my strokes."
"Nothing is stopping me from going out a hundred percent, that's the most
important thing," she continued.
"Nothing is restricting me from playing, so that's a great feeling to have."
Follow all the action from Roland Garros, LIVE right here on eurosport.com
from Sunday!
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