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Apr 14th, 2003, 08:39 AM
Henin snaps Serena run
Serena Williams' juggernaut derailed in dramatic fashion in the Charleston final against Justine Henin-Hardenne on Sunday, as the world number one suffered her first defeat of the year, losing 6-3 6-4. The 20-year-old Belgian claimed her eighth career title in 66 minutes, as the American imploded hitting 29 unforced errors in a match that signals the end of her 21-match winning streak for the year.
Williams had been hoping to win her fourth consecutive event of the year but instead had to see a jubilant Henin-Hardenne throw her arms up in the air to celebrate her second victory of the season.
Starting brightly and hitting a series of winners to breeze into a 3-0 lead, Williams exuded confidence, but against the player who had beaten her once before - in last year's German Open final - her game waned, as the diminutive Belgian scrambled and forced mistakes.
The dents began to appear in the Williams armoury moments later. Six games were lost in quick succession and three followed in the second set for the Belgian to take a 4-3 lead.
As the tournaments second-seed Henin-Hardenne breezed into the final, sweeping aside little resistance, but in the final her tactics clearly changed as she played from three yard's behind the baseline, inviting the five-time Grand Slam champion to make the mistake.
Williams' game recovered briefly, but Henin-Hardenne held her nerve to win the second of two match points, as the American, winner of 22 titles netted a feeble backhand.
The defeat was Williams' first loss since November 2002, when Kim Clijsters beat her in the end-of season WTA Championships in Los Angeles.
eurosport.com
Serena Williams' juggernaut derailed in dramatic fashion in the Charleston final against Justine Henin-Hardenne on Sunday, as the world number one suffered her first defeat of the year, losing 6-3 6-4. The 20-year-old Belgian claimed her eighth career title in 66 minutes, as the American imploded hitting 29 unforced errors in a match that signals the end of her 21-match winning streak for the year.
Williams had been hoping to win her fourth consecutive event of the year but instead had to see a jubilant Henin-Hardenne throw her arms up in the air to celebrate her second victory of the season.
Starting brightly and hitting a series of winners to breeze into a 3-0 lead, Williams exuded confidence, but against the player who had beaten her once before - in last year's German Open final - her game waned, as the diminutive Belgian scrambled and forced mistakes.
The dents began to appear in the Williams armoury moments later. Six games were lost in quick succession and three followed in the second set for the Belgian to take a 4-3 lead.
As the tournaments second-seed Henin-Hardenne breezed into the final, sweeping aside little resistance, but in the final her tactics clearly changed as she played from three yard's behind the baseline, inviting the five-time Grand Slam champion to make the mistake.
Williams' game recovered briefly, but Henin-Hardenne held her nerve to win the second of two match points, as the American, winner of 22 titles netted a feeble backhand.
The defeat was Williams' first loss since November 2002, when Kim Clijsters beat her in the end-of season WTA Championships in Los Angeles.
eurosport.com