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Sports / Tennis
Henin defeats Jankovic to win Toronto Cup
(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-08-20 11:54
TORONTO - World number one Justine Henin warmed up for the U.S. 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 $1.3 million event
without dropping a set.
Justine Henin, of Belgium, reacts after defeating Jelena Jankovic, of
Serbia, in Rogers Cup Tennis final in Toronto, Canada, on Sunday, Aug.
19, 2007. Henin won 7-6 (3), 7-5.?[AP]
A near capacity centre 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 U.S. 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."
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