World No. 1 Justine Henin recovered from a disastrous start to fend off an upset attempt by Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in three sets to advance to the quarterfinals of the Antwerp Diamond Games tournament on Thursday.

 

But world No. 6 and No. 2 seed Anna Chakvetadze of Russia was sent packing on Thursday.

 

Henin lost the first set 6-7 to the 76th-ranked Pironkova, and was behind 1-3 in the second set before winning five consecutive games to take the set 6-3. In the deciding set, Henin crushed her 20-year-old opponent 6-1.

 

This was the first time that Henin played in front of her home fans in five years. She last played the tournament in 2003 when she lost to compatriot Kim Clijsters in the semifinals.

 

In Friday's quarterfinals, Henin will take on Russian Alisa Kleybanova, who defeated Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine in three tough sets earlier Thursday.

 

In other actions on Thursday, Chakvetadze, fresh off victory in Paris last week, was upset by Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson, who will play No. 9 seed Li Na of China in the quarterfinals.

 

Swiss player Timea Bacsinszky beat American Julie Ditty 7-5, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal clash with No. 3 seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

 

The other quarterfinal pits Italian Karin Knapp against Swiss veteral Patty Schnyder.

 

This will be the final year of the 600,000-US-dollar Antwerp tournament after a WTA calendar revision which will take effect in 2009.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2008)