Easy for Henin

Finally Justine Henin can look forward a decent Wimbledon test after easily progressing into the last eight with a 6-2 6-2 win over Patty Schnyder.

The top seed’s bid for her first Wimbledon crown will belatedly get tough with either Serena Williams or Daniela Hantuchova awaiting her in the quarter-finals.

Henin has barely broken sweat in the tournament so far and if Schnyder’s world ranking of 15 promised some kind of challenge, it was quickly swatted away under dark SW19 skies.

The top seed had roared into a 3-0 lead over the Swiss player before many had taken their seats after an initial one-hour rain delay, and even being broken back in the fourth game had little effect.

Henin simply consolidated her advantage with her usual brand of fierce ground-strokes proving too good for Schnyder, as the Belgian took the set in 31 minutes.

With the skies still threatening, Henin was in no mood to hang around and she broke Schnyder in the third game of the second set to take what would prove to be a match-winning advantage.

After going a double-break up, Henin served out to take the tie 6-2 6-2 in 56 minutes and finally set up the big last eight test the women’s tournament so desperately needs.