Henin-Hardenne advances at US Open

Justine Henin-Hardenne struggled to advance at the US Open and thinks rust has a lot to do with it.

Henin-Hardenne and Elena Dementieva each had difficulties but nevertheless advanced to the fourth round of the US Open.

The seventh seed and 2003 US Open champion from Belgium, Henin-Hardenne cruised in the first set but was pushed to a tie-breaker in the second before defeating Yoon Jeong Cho of Korea, 6-0 7-6 (7-4).

The 23-year-old Henin-Hardenne, who missed much of last year and early this year with a viral illness and various injuries, had played just one event since a first-round loss at Wimbledon due to a hamstring injury.

After winning yesterday, Henin-Hardenne admitted her recent inactivity may have been the reason she struggled to get past her opponent.

“I am a player who needs a lot of matches, especially before a grand slam,” she said.

“But right now I won a couple of matches and that gives confidence. And when you’re injured, you have to rest. So that’s bad enough.

“But before a grand slam, for sure, you probably need more than one tournament. But I played five matches in Toronto and that’s been pretty good.”

Henin-Hardenne, who won the first nine games, committed 21 of her 28 unforced errors in the second set, when she also had five of her eight double-faults.

“I think I played the first set and the beginning of the second with a very high intensity,” Henin-Hardenne said.

“I was playing very well then lost a little bit of my aggressiveness. I didn’t play bad when she broke to come to 3-1 in the second but after that the match changed a little bit.”

Henin-Hardenne will face either No. 12 Mary Pierce of France – whom she defeated to win the French Open in June – or 17th-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the fourth round.

The seventh seed from Russia, Dementieva narrowly escaped against countrywoman Anna Chakvetadze, the 29th seed, 6-1 4-6 7-6 (7-5).

Dementieva, who needed two hours, eight minutes to advance, awaits either 11th seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland or 24th seed Shinobu Asagoe of Japan.