Kuznetsova eyes Henin clash

General / Editor / 12 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova secured a German Open semi-final place where she is hopeful of facing world number one Justine Henin.

Kuznetsova, who is trading at 4.2 to win the title, reached the last-four of the tournament by beating defending champion and fellow compatriot Nadia Petrova of Russia 7-6 (5), 6-4 in Berlin on Friday afternoon.

However rain prevented 24-year-old Henin, who is 2.12 favourite, from finishing her quarter-final game against Jelena Jankovic so they must continue later on Saturday.

Kuznetsova is relishing the chance of facing Henin, who she has only beaten once in 15 games, but Jankovic is doing her best to prevent that happening by leading 6-3, 4-4 when rain intervened.

Kuznetsova said: "This would be the best thing happening to me. What's better than to play against the world number one?"

Unseeded Julia Vakulenko, who stunned world number three and three-time Berlin winner Amelie Mauresmo of France in their last-16 clash, defeated Russia's Dinara Safina 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in her quarter-final.

She will face Serbia's Ana Ivanovic for a place in the final following her 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win against Switzerland's Patty Schnyder.