Justine Henin got her challenge for the Zürich Open up and running on Thursday with a straight-set win over Vera Zvonareva in the second round. The other players to book their places in the quarterfinals of the $1,340,000, Tier I event were Svetlana Kuznetsova, Agniezska Radwanska and Francesca Schiavone.
Justine Henin is a perfect 12-0 in quarterfinal matches this season and has won her last 28 quarterfinal matches. The last time Henin dropped a Tour quarterfinal match was at 2005 Miami (l. to world No.3 Sharapova).
Entering her quarterfinal match against Radwanska, Henin has won 17 consecutive matches, dating back to her semifinal loss at Wimbledon (l. to No.18 seed Bartoli); since Wimbledon, Henin has dropped only one set (at Stuttgart, d. Golovin 26 62 61 in finals).
Agnieszka Radwanska and Alona Bondarenko are making their first career appearances in a Tier I singles quarterfinal. For Radwanska, it marks her third trip to the quarterfinals at a Tour singles event this season, having lost at Istanbul (Tier III) to world No.2 Sharapova and defeating Wozniacki at Stockholm (Tier IV) en route to her first career singles title.
Bondarenko has advanced to the quarterfinals five times at a Tour event this season, advancing to the semifinals on two occasions. She made her first semifinal appearance of 2007 at Warsaw (d. Vakulenko 62 31 ret.) en route to the final (l. to No.1 seed Henin) and also advanced past the quarters at Istanbul, falling to Dementieva in the semifinals. Her quarterfinal match against Vaidisova will be their first meeting.
RANK PROJECTIONS*
Justine Henin: Safe at No.1 regardless of her remaining result.
Svetlana Kuznetsova: Safe at No. 2 regardless of her remaining result.
Marion Bartoli: With her quarterfinal appearance, projected to move to a new career-high No.9 (current careerhigh is No.10 on August 27, 2007) pending Vaidisova’s performance this week. If Bartoli advances to the semifinals, she would move to No.9 regardless of Vaidisova’s performance. If Bartoli falls in the quarterfinals and Vaidisova captures the singles title, Bartoli would move to No.10.
Agnieszka Radwanska: With her quarterfinal appearance, projected to move from No.31 to a new career-high No.25 ranking or No.26 depending on Schiavone’s finish. Radwanska’s current career-best ranking is No.30 September 10, 2007.
*Projections only. Rankings not official until announced on Monday, October 22. (WTA)
