Henin powers Belgium
Afp, Charleroi
Justine Henin-Hardenne defeated Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-5 here on Sunday to give Belgium a 2-1 lead in the Fed Cup final against Italy.It was the second win of the final for the world No.2 and came despite her struggling with a knee injury. She won a tough first set in 51 minutes but, as in her first match on Saturday against Flavia Pennetta, trailed 2-5 in the second set before going on a five game run to close out the match. "I was in a lot of pain from the knee injury that started on Saturday," she said. "It was tough at times but I played my heart out. I needed to win in two sets because I could not have managed a third set." Henin-Hardenne is carrying the home hopes of a second Fed Cup win after that of 2001 following the withdrawal of former world No.1 Kim Clijsters with a wrist injury she sustained in preparing for the US Open. The second of the reverse singles sees Mara Santangelo take on the replacement for Clijsters, Kirsten Flipkens, who lost in straight sets to Schiavone on Saturday. If the match is level at 2-2, the final will be decided by a doubles rubber.
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