Preview: Mauresmo, Henin-Hardenne head into semi-finals with edge

Sep 8, 2006, 0:44 GMT

New York - On-fire Amelie Mauresmo takes a perfect 4-0 record into her Friday semi-final against Maria Sharapova as the French top seed bids for a third Grand Slam finals appearance this season.

Mauresmo is keen to continue her career breakthrough, which began as she won the Australian Open when Justine Henin-Hardenne retired injured in their Melbourne final.

The Belgian, who proved her return to fitness with a third Roland Garros trophy five months later in Paris, will play the second New York semi against Serbian outsider Jelena Jankovic, who has reached the last four at a major for the first time.

While Henin-Hardenne and Mauresmo are the experienced campaigners, challengers Sharapova and Jankovic cannot be counted out.

Sharapova has stalled five times at the semi-final stage since winning Wimbledon in 2004.

Mauresmo also beat her in the Wimbledon semi-final. The French player could become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2002 to win three Grand Slam titles in the same year, if she triumphs in Saturday night's final.

'She's definitely the player to beat right now,' said Sharapova. 'I don't have anything to lose. She's number 1. She's won two majors this year. She's got all the confidence in the world. All I want to do is just go out there and enjoy the moment.'

Sharapova has been on view in New York as much for her outfits as her tennis, with her 'little black dress' inspired by actress Audrey Hepburn on display at night matches. The teenager's best appearance in New York came two years ago in another semi.

While Mauresmo goes in as the favourite, that's fine by Sharapova.

'My only frustration is coming off a match and realizing the little things that you could have done differently. But it has nothing to do with getting to the final or winning another Grand Slam,' she said.

'The last thing I worry about when I go on court is trying to prove anything to anyone.'

With Mauresmo's new 2006 confidence comes a calm certainty that she can consistently rise to the occasion and play her game at the right moment.

With her runaway record against Sharapova, the French top seed is ready for anything.

'There's something in my game that she doesn't like, my game and the way I play. I'm not gonna change anything. I usually don't change many things,' Mauresmo promised.

'I usually have my weapons.'

Henin-Hardenne, winner of five Grand Slam titles including three in Paris, will be rushing to heal a rib injury that struck during her quarter-final win over Lindsay Davenport.

'I have this problem a little bit from the problems I had in my stomach in January in Australia,' she said. 'It's something that I think is under control, but it's been very painful.

She said that the number-20 Jankovic would give her 'a tough match, even if it looks maybe easy on paper.'

'On court it's a totally different story. Jankovic is playing great tennis this week,' Henin-Hardenne said. 'I just want to prefer to stay focused on that. In tennis, things can change very quickly.'

Due to rain, Jankovic is the only semi-finalist who has benefited from two rest days after winning her Tuesday quarter-final.

She began her season in the doldrums, losing nine of her first 10 matches until Rome in May.