MELBOURNE, Australia — Justine Henin was eliminated in the third round of the Australian Open, losing 6-4, 7-6 (8) to Svetlana Kuznetsova just a year after reaching the final in her comeback to Grand Slam tennis.
It was Henin’s first loss in a major to Kuznetsova, a former French and U.S. Open champion, and her worst run at a Grand Slam event since Wimbledon in 2005.
Henin was only weeks into a comeback from a career break from the tour when she lost the final last year to Serena Williams, the third time in four appearances that she had reached the championship match at Melbourne. Her comeback season was derailed when she injured her right elbow at Wimbledon and didn’t play again in 2010.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner put up quite a fight in this one.
Kuznetsova twice had chances to serve out the match but Henin broke her both times. In a fluctuating tiebreaker, Kuznetsova was ahead 6-4 before Henin sent a service return skidding down the line and took the next point. She netted a forehand to give Kuznetsova another match point at 8-7 but again hit a powerful forehand service return winner.
Henin finally lost when she sent a forehand wide, giving Kuznetsova only her third win in 19 meetings.
In the previous match on center court, Caroline Wozniacki beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 6-3 to avenge last week’s loss in a tuneup tournament.
Then she turned the tables on the media. Hearing she’d come across as a bit boring in recent interviews, she opened a post-match news conference with a funny monologue, saying she knew what would be asked so she’d just give her stock answers one-by-one. Then she invited questions on “more interesting” topics, such as the piano, cricket, soccer and what she’s looking for in a boyfriend.
Wozniacki, playing her first Grand Slam as the world No. 1, is seeking her first major win.
“I am happy I got the revenge since I lost to her in Sydney last week. It was not an easy match. She went out there; she was really on fire. You know, I’m happy to be through to the next round,” the 20-year-old Danish player said, working through answers to the usual questions.
Novak Djokovic only had to play one set to advance. Djokovic was leading Viktor Troicki 6-2 when his Serbian Davis Cup teammate retired with a stomach muscle strain.
