Justine Henin Falls To Sam Stosur

Justine Henin’s hopes of lifting her first Grand Slam title since returning from retirement were dashed this afternoon as she crashed out in three sets to seventh seed Samantha Stosur.

Henin was playing a Roland Garros for the first time since winning the title for a fourth time back in 2007.

Stosur, who reached the semi-final in Paris twelve months ago, has crept through the draw with no problems as well as no attention and proved that she is one of the best clay court players currently on the women’s tour.

The weather has done little to held Henin’s cause as she was forced to return to court yesterday to complete her three set encounter with twelfth seed Maria Sharapova, after it was halted on Saturday night because of poor light.

Despite having little time to rest and recover from her battle with the Russian it was Henin who made the brighter start as she broke Stosur twice to take the opening set in just over half an hour.

But Stosur battled back in the second and there was a complete reversal of fortune as it was Stosur with the breaks of serve as she opened up a 4-1 lead, with the Belgian beginning to get frustrated with her drop in level of play.

So locked together at a set a piece it was a final set shootout to decide who would meet world number one Serena Williams in the quarter final.

Henin handed Stosur the advantage in the fifth game when she double faulted on break point. But the Belgian wasn’t down and out as she broke back immediately to once again pull level at 3-3.

But it was to be Henin’s serve that was to let her down once again as yet another double fault handed Stosur break point. Henin then a miss by Henin handed her the break that she needed.

Despite the Suzanne Lenglen crowd on the side of the former champion Stosur held her nerve as she served out the set. Double faulted on her first match point but finally got over the line with a smash to win 2-6 6-1 6-4.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw