Henin-Hardenne recovers to set up all-Belgian final

Kim Clijsters will be hoping for revenge over fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

The top seed overpowered American Lindsay Davenport 6-2 6-3 in the first semi-final but must now avenge a defeat in the final of the French Open if she wishes to claim her first major crown.

Henin-Hardenne staged a remarkable comeback against Jennifer Capriati to seal her place in the final.

The Belgian was trailing 5-2 in the final set before rallying for a 4-6 7-5 7-6(7-4) victory that stunned the partisan American crowd.

Earlier, Clijsters and Davenport appeared sluggish at the outset as there were five straight breaks of serve after Davenport held hers in the opening game.

Clijsters was finally able to hold for a 5-2 lead and broke Davenport for the fourth time off a brilliant crosscourt forehand to take the opening set in 28 minutes.

Davenport committed 18 unforced errors in the first set, but tried to get back on track in the second after breaking Clijsters for a 2-1 advantage.

But the Belgian broke back in the next game, which featured a lob that Davenport seemed to give up on and landed just inside the baseline to set up break point.

Clijsters got the pivotal break to take a 5-3 lead and served out the match in the next game to close out the 63-minute victory.

Davenport was troubled by a nerve problem in her foot but did not blame the injury for her poor performance.

In the second semi-final which finished after midnight, Capriati was trailing in the first set but stormed back to take it 6-4.

The American then broke Henin-Hardenne early in the second set and actually served for the match only for the Belgian's resilience to come through as she broke back and eventually took the set.

Capriati lost the opening game of the final set on her serve but then took five of the next six to open up what appeared to be a match-winning lead.

But once again Henin-Hardenne, who was suffering from cramp in the final stages, somehow managed to find winner after winner to complete an improbable victory.