Because this was their initial career meeting, Justine Henin was a bit anxious about her quarterfinal opponent at the Sony Ericsson Open, Caroline Wozniacki. Nevertheless, the former world number one and multiple major winner as customary figured it out. Henin ousted the second seed in three sets 6-7,6-3,6-4.
Henin struck initially, breaking Wozniacki the first game of the match. Although the world number two swiftly returned the favor, in Wozniacki’s second game, with a forehand volley winner Henin had break point. Justine converted when Wozniacki’s forehand sailed long. After consolidating for 3-1, Henin found herself on the ropes in the 6th game, double break point down. Henin dropped that game to equalize the set at 3 all. Towards the end, the players traded breaks, sending the set to a tiebreaker whereby Wozniacki took a one set lead in the match.
In the second set, after both women held serve comfortably, Wozniacki double faulted to give Henin break point. Still, the teenager calmly brushed that aside and got to 3 all. Henin reciprocated the next game, wiping out two break points. On the change over, dealing with a lower back injury, Henin called for medical attention. When Henin got back to business with a return winner, she set up double break point. Justine obtained the 5-3 edge when Wozniacki made a backhand crosscourt miscue. The next game, with a forehand winner, Henin seized the set.
The third set, after Wozniacki committed a forehand error on game point, she attempted to volley off an overhead by Henin but failed. Now with break point, Henin forced Wozniacki into a backhand crosscourt error. Following that, Henin consolidated for 3-1. From that point on, both players cruised on serve. With Wozniacki unable to fabricate a break point, on triple match point, Henin closed out the match with her signature stroke, the backhand down the line.
After the match, MiamiTennisNews.com inquired the following from Henin:
Q. Is it difficult to come up with a strategy when you face a player for the first time?
HENIN: Yeah, it’s always difficult. Especially now that I’m coming back, I like to know a little bit about what can happen. When you face someone that you [have] never played in the past, you don’t have any [reference]. You just look [for] your confidence on the court and how to feel comfortable with the game she gives. So I do prefer to play someone that I know better.
Although it’s been three years since Kim Clijsters and Samantha Stosur last played, Clijsters didn’t seem unimpressed with her rival’s much improved game. Clijsters dispatched Stosur in straight sets 6-3,7-5.
After holding serve at love, Clijsters provoked three consecutive miscues from Stosur for triple break point. When Stosur sliced a backhand into the net, Clijsters pocketed the break. Subsequently, Clijsters consolidated for a 3-0 lead. Despite Stosur guarding serve, Clijsters refused to permit her back in the set. Ultimately, Clijsters wrapped things up with a love game.