By Bill Scott Sep 9, 2006, 1:28 GMT
New York - Paparazzi-magnet Maria Sharapova will don her stylish black tennis dress one more time in New York when she faces Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne in Saturday night's final at the US Open.
The third seed from Russia, whose glittery evening look was inspired by actress Audrey Hepburn, takes to the court against the first woman in nine years to reach all four finals of the majors in the same season.
But with the echoes of a 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 thrashing of world number 1 Amelie Mauresmo in a topsy-turvey semi-final Friday still ringing fresh, Sharapova has high expectations for her match against Henin- Hardenne, who has won their last four meetings.
Sharapova hopes to return fresh Saturday night in front of up to 23,000 New Yorkers - a group that, once they sink a few pre-match cocktails, can be among the most demanding and boisterous in the game.
But Florida-based Sharapova currently knows no fear and dismisses suggestions of any impending letdown, nor did she admit to believing in any semi-final curse after stalling at that stage in five Grand Slams since winning Wimbledon in 2004.
'It doesn't mean anything to me,' the 19-year-old said of failing win a second Grand Slam title. 'Really, it doesn't...I've said it a million times.'
Sharapova is expecting nothing less than a huge test against the gutsy Justine Henin-Hardenne, who pounced on a moment of distraction from Serb Jelena Jankovic and won the last ten games Friday to advance 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. Jankovic disputed a line-call while up one set and 4-2.
'I don't have a great record with Justine, but it doesn't really matter,' Sharapova said. 'It's a new match, new opportunity. I know that I'm playing good tennis and I'm confident.'
With her eye on the top prize, Sharapova said: 'I'm not done yet, but I'm thrilled to be in final.'
Henin-Hardenne, who won her third French Open this season but lost Australian and Wimbledon finals to Mauresmo, will be trying to nurse to health a rib injury on her back in double-quick time.
'It's been pretty painful last few days,' she said. 'I just have to keep fighting, it's not easy to play with the pain. I tried not to think any more about this injury and just play.'
Henin-Hardenne has a chance to seize back the number 1 spot from the beaten Mauresmo by winning the final. 'Every athlete has to deal with a little bit of pain at the end of a Grand Slam,' she said.
With her star rising after a few months of relative fitness, the second seed from Belgium fancies her chances.
'It's been an amazing season for me, almost a dream this year,' she said of winning five titles and 54 matches in 2006.
'It's been unbelievable. I've been very consistent. I played well during the whole season. I've been healthy,' she said.
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