Hardenne seeks third French Open crown
PARIS, June 10 (Reuters) - Justine Henin-Hardenne is firm favourite to win her third French Open title in four years and in doing so erase the disappointment of her Australian Open nightmare today.
The Belgian, who retired from the Melbourne Park final against Amelie Mauresmo due to illness in January, tackles doughty Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the showpiece match of the claycourt grand slam.
''It was a hard moment in my career,'' Henin-Hardenne said. ''I have yet to bury it. (Today) I will have the chance to do it.'' Henin-Hardenne has not dropped a set on her way to the final and the manner in which she thrashed world number two Kim Clijsters in the semi-finals suggests Kuznetsova is in for a tough afternoon in Paris.
The Belgian, also a winner in 2003, is aiming to join Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles as the only women to have won back-to-back titles on Parisian clay in the professional era.
She is also looking to become the first player since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1994 to win the tournament without dropping a set.
Sanchez-Vicario has been advising Kuznetsova, the 2004 U.S.
Open champion, and the Russian knows what she is up against.
''I am going to play the toughest player you can play on claycourt,'' said Kuznetsova, who trails 10-1 in their head-to-head record. ''It is very hard but not impossible.'' REUTERS AD VC0742


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