Brisbane International Tennis - Australian Open Series

Henin wins comeback match

AAP/Image: SMP Images Monday 4 January 2010 Comments

A more “aggressive and dangerous” Justine Henin is set to sweep aside all-comers, including compatriot Kim Clijsters, to claim her comeback tournament.

That was the strongly held opinion of second seed Nadia Petrova, who was bundled out of the Brisbane International 7-5 7-5 by the Belgian wildcard at Pat Rafter Arena on Monday.

It took Petrova, No.20 in the world, less than two hours to be convinced Henin has returned a better player to that which retired on top of the rankings 20 months ago.

In an ominous warning to their rivals, the Russian is certain the 27 year old can add to her seven Grand Slams and 41 WTA tournament titles in 2010.

“It’s a different Henin. To me, it looks like she is playing better tennis than when she retired,” Petrova said after the high-quality first-round clash.

“She really plays a completely different style. She tries to be very aggressive and taking her opportunities straight away.

“Before it was always like long rallies and more like a claycourt player and now she’s becoming a really aggressive player.”

Petrova went as far to say Clijsters, who crowned her own comeback with the US Open title last August, wouldn’t have the game in a potential “dream final” to hold out Henin.

“That would actually be fun to see that,” she said. “I would go for Justine.

“She has improved her serves a lot, she takes the ball very early and I think it would be hard for Kim to keep up in the rallies.”

Petrova, ranked as high as No.3 in 2006, can see Henin immediately challenging for the Australian Open in her third tournament back.

“That’s why she is back, she is hungry to win Wimbledon and I think the changes she has made in her game is actually leading towards that.”

Henin has maintained her steely resolve, breaking Petrova in the 11th game of each set in the one-hour, 43-minute match.

Her signature single-handed backhand was also working nicely, even though her forehand was sometimes off range, while her court movement was slick despite not playing for 20 months.

Henin did have to dig deep, coming back from an early break in the second set, to progress through to the second round against Kazakhstan’s Sesil Karatantcheva, who beat Casey Dellacqua 6-2 0-6 7-6 (7-1).

Results from the Brisbane International today

Men Round 1

8-Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) d Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-3 3-6 6-1

Harel Levy (ISR) d Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-2 6-0

Alejandro Falla (COL) d 7-Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4 6-4

Marc Gicquel (FRA) d Philipp Petzschner (GER) 6-3 6-1

Wayne Odesnik (USA) d Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-4 7-6(2)

Richard Gasquet (FRA) d Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 4-6 6-4

Women Round 1

Agnes Szavay (HUN) d Peng Shuai (CHN) 5-7 6-4 6-2

Justine Henin (BEL) d 2-Nadia Petrova (RUS) 7-5 7-5

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d 5-Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 6-4 2-6 6-2

Lucie Safarova (CZE) d Anna-Lena Gronefeld (GER) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1

Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) d Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 6-2 0-6 7-6(1)

Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 6-4 7-6(3)

3-Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d Jelena Dokic (AUS) 7-5 1-6 6-3

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d Sara Errani (ITA) 6-4 2-6 6-2

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Tags: Justine Henin, Nadia Petrova

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