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| Justine Henin appears to be coasting towards her fourth French Open title. After claiming victories in 2003, 2005 and again in 2006, the Belgian has looked unbeatable again this year, reaching the semis without dropping a set – and setting a new record of consecutive sets won in the tournament (31) in the process. In what will be her 5th semi-final outing in Paris she is most people’s favourite to become only the second player to win three successive Suzanne-Lenglen trophies after Monica Seles (1990-1992). | | | | At 22, Jelena Jankovic is playing the best tennis of her career. Ranked 12th in the world at the start of the season, she arrives in Paris top of The Race. A winner on clay in Charleston and in Rome, some pundits think Roland Garros 2007 could be her first Grand Slam crown. Knocked out in the 3rd round last year by Amelie Mauresmo, the Serb is in Paris for the 4th time in her career. | |
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| Coming off her divorce at the beginning of the year, Henin took a few months to regain her crown as the undisputed world number 1, winning in Dubai, Doha and Warsaw. Roland Garros has always been a happy hunting ground for the Belgian. Against Serena Williams she looked sharp and exuded confidence. It will take a big performance to trouble her. | | | | Jankovic has been ever-present on the circuit in 2007. She has taken part in 16 tournaments and Roland Garros is her 5th back-to-back outing. So far, however, she is not showing the slightest sign of fatigue, overcoming the likes of Venus Williams and Nicole Vaidisova and conceding but a single set – against the American. | |
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| Justine is wonderfully savvy on clay. Her prescience and acute tactical sense making up for her slight frame. And then there is that gorgeous backhand. As her confidence has grown in recent months, she has shown a propensity to go to the net, where she is a picture of elegance and efficiency. Her once suspect second service is now sound and only her physique lets her down from time to time. | | | | Jelena Jankovic’s boasts a lethal forehand and is supremely solid defensively. Spontaneous, good natured and often spectacular, the Serb is generally appreciated by the tennis-going public. Her service, however, remains a weakness. It is in this part of her game, in terms of speed as well as precision, where she needs to improve the most. | |
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| A Grand Slam semi-final is always a nerve-racking affair. The winner will have to be mentally tough, which would normally plead in Justine’s favour. | | | | A lot will hinge on how Jankovic is hitting on the day. She has been known to drift in and out of games too often in the past and will need to keep her winners/unforced errors ratio in the positive column. With more big occasion experience to her name, Justine should hit the ground running. Jelena will be hoping her current form holds for just another few days... | |
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| Previous encounters between the two plead very much in Justine’s favour. She has won five out of five, although it has always gone to three sets. The two have met three times already this year and twice on clay. | | | | Their last tussle on clay in Berlin serves as a reminder of Justine’s mental strength. Down 4-0 in the third set she took six straight games leaving her opponent helpless. How will Jankovic deal with the pressure if she gets her nose in front ? Will the spectre of five previous defeats bear down? Belgian experience or Serbian effervescence will most likely win the day... | |
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