TENNIS - US Open: It had been expected that Israel's Shahar Peer, now on the fringes of the top 20, would give Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne, the reigning French Open champion, a particularly tough time in the fourth round of the US Open yesterday.
The reality was that Henin won 6-1, 6-0 in 50 minutes to secure the calmest of passages into the quarter-finals.
"I walked on court thinking it could be a dangerous match, and I was ready for her," said Henin, who since losing the Wimbledon final against France's Amelie Mauresmo has played only one tournament, winning the title in New Haven just over a week ago.
What was particularly impressive against Peer was the Belgian's volleying, sometimes behind her serve which for a small woman has always been a considerable weapon.
"I've been working on it a lot with my coach because it's going to be the type of game I will have to play if I want to stay competitive. I'm not as strong as many of the other top players, and by getting to the net and keeping the points short I can save some energy."
Henin, the winner of five grand slam titles, including the US Open in 2003, has constantly suffered from injuries and virus problems as she has fought to stay at the top of her profession.
Early in the year she pulled out during the Australian Open final against Mauresmo after anti-inflammatory drugs she was taking for an injured shoulder severely upset her stomach.
"I can never beat the powerful players from the baseline, so I have to get forward," she explained.
Elena Dementieva, at number four the highest seeded player here not to have won a slam title, reached the last eight with 7-5, 6-4 victory over Aravane Rezai of France. Rezai (19) was in her first fourth-round match and nervous: "I rushed everything, and tried to go for winners all the time."
Dementieva will next play Serbia's Jelena Jankovic who came from behind to defeat Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open champion.
Another former champion, Serena Williams, comfortably advanced to the last 16. Williams, who is competing in the tournament by virtue of a wild card after a long spell of inactivity, disposed of number 16 seed Ana Ivanovic 6-2, 6-4.
Next up for Williams will be France's Amelie Mauresmo, who moved one step closer to her third major title of the season by defeating unseeded Italian Mara Santangelo 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
With Andre Agassi retired, US television is looking for someone else to light up the night sessions, and it was James Blake's turn to play under the stars.
"Andre was great at appreciating every win and for appreciating the fans for what they gave to him. I try to do the same," said Blake who this year has taken on the mantle of being the US number one.
Blake beat Spain's Carlos Moya 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 and relished the involvement of the crowd in the main Arthur Ashe stadium, notably when he was 6-2 down in the second set tie-break.
"When I got it back to 6-5 I thought that if I could win the next point the crowd was going to go crazy."
Blake plays Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic today. "He's a player with a lot of weapons, a huge serve and a huge forehand. Last year he was very streaky, but I think everybody saw how talented he was when he beat Roger Federer in the Athens Olympics."
Guardian Service
