World number one Justine Henin warmed up for the US Open by
taming third seed Jelena Jankovic 7-6, 7-5 to capture her second
Toronto Cup on Sunday.
Playing her first tournament since losing in the semi-finals at
Wimbledon, the 25-year-old Belgian was quickly back to her best and
lifted her sixth title in 2007. She raced through the US$1.3
million event without dropping a set.
A near capacity center court crowd was treated to a display of
high-quality tennis as Henin continued her domination over Jankovic
and improved her head-to-head record against the Serb to 7-0.
Henin, however, was made to work hard for her 35th career win,
needing six match points and two hours 18 minutes to defeat a
determined Jankovic.
The victory provides the perfect buildup to the US Open for the
French Open champion, who will take next week off before launching
her bid for a second grand slam victory of the year.
Bothered by a sore right shoulder that flared up during her
semi-final win over China's Yan Zi on Saturday, Henin had warned
officials that there was only a 50/50 chance she would play.
After receiving intensive treatment on the sore joint early on
Sunday, the six-times grand slam winner managed to walk out for the
match.
The Belgian occasionally grimaced but otherwise showed no
noticeable signs of distress during the match.
"Last night there was almost no chance I would play, I was
really concerned my shoulder was really inflamed," Henin told
reporters. "I was feeling 100 percent during the match but it will
be sore for a few days.
"I will be fine for the Open but I was really concerned for
today."
Jankovic, who was easily thrashed by the world number one when
they last met at the French Open semi-finals, looked determined to
end Henin's domination and secured an early break to open a 3-1
lead in the opening set.
But Henin, who had been slow to get into a rhythm all week,
eventually began to find her mark. She broke back in the seventh
game and again to take control at 6-5.
Jankovic also displayed a fighting spirit to break right back
and force a tiebreak.
After Henin sealed it 7-3, the 22-year-old Serb refused to cave
in and broke Henin at the start of the second.
But few players can match Henin's tenacity, which was on full
display during the pivotal 11th game. Henin had to contest 24
points in 18 minutes before she could hold serve to take a 6-5
lead.
"I give her one finger and she takes the whole hand," said
Jankovic. "She is a player who takes every chance you give her.
"You cannot give her anything."
(China Daily via Reuters August 20, 2007)