Henin Fights Into Semifinals

Belgian, 27, in first Grand Slam since ending retirement
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jan 25, 2010 8:52 PM CST
Updated Jan 25, 2010 10:19 PM CST
Henin Fights Into Semifinals
Justine Henin of Belgium celebrates after beating Nadia Petrova of Russia in their women's singles quarterfinal at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday.   (AP Photo)

Former world No. 1 Justine Henin reached the semifinals in her Grand Slam comeback, beating Nadia Petrova 7-6 (3), 7-5 Tuesday to take out the last seeded player in her half of the Australian Open draw. The 27-year-old Henin, unranked and playing on a wild-card entry at Melbourne Park after coming out of retirement this month, went down a break in the second set before winning seven of the next nine games to finish off No. 19-seeded Petrova.

In another women's quarterfinal, China's Jie Zheng defeated Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-3; the other two quarters, each featuring a Williams sister, are Wednesday. In later men's quarterfinals, seventh-seeded American Andy Roddick is facing No. 14 Marin Cilic, and No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal playing fifth-seeded Briton Andy Murray. Check scores here. (More Australian Open stories.)

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