Notes: Four-time champ Fernando Gonzalez is missing with injury; draw looks like the Argentine Open, with seeds Nalbandian (vs. Barlocq) and Monaco (vs. M.Gonzalez) facing tricky all-ARG openers with practice partner countrymen; Bellucci beat Monaci in last year’s final; in addition to Gonzo winning the event four times, other notable past winners are French Open champ Gustavo Kuerten (2000) and French runners-up Guillermo Coria (2001) and Alberto Berasategui (1994).

“I finally feel like you guys can call me Aussie Kim, because I won the title,” Clijsters told the crowd after the match. Clijsters picked up the nickname Aussie Kim when she used to date Australian former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt. “I’ve been coming here for many years and you guys have always been amazing. I really appreciate it. It helps so much when you’re fighting to win the title.”

Down two sets to none, Mr. Nice Federer disappeared, and Hardcore Roger reared his head. Federer appeared to talk to Djokovic during the Serb’s service preparation as Djokovic went into his extensive pre-service ball bouncing. Federer glared at Djokovic’s player box and complained to the chair umpire about excessive cheering, talking and noise. After losing the second set, perhaps to get in the Serb’s head, Federer took a rare bathroom break.

“I made a lot of mistakes in the first set and in the beginning of the second set, but after I saved match point I thought, ‘Okay, now’s your chance,’” Li said. “It’s tough playing against her. She’s running — I felt some of my shots were winners but every time she got the ball back. It’s tough for everyone to play against.”

“I turn, and this time, an incredible page of my life,” Henin said on her website. “What a wonderful trip, I have experienced during all these years. Today I am calmer and I can create positive and rewarding look back on this experience in my life…Finally and most importantly, thanks everyone. Thanks for standing by my side during all these years. I will never forget your support and your loyalty.”

On the court in Wednesday quarterfinal action will be (25) Petra Kvitova vs. (2) Vera Zvonareva, and (12) Agnieszka Radwanska vs. (3) Kim Clijsters.

Francesca Schiavone defeated Svetlana Kuznetosova in 4:44, the longest women’s ever in Grand Slam play. The third set went three hours.

“I thought it was over at 4-love,” Tomic said. “Just shows how much he can come back. Against these guys, especially in the Top 10, you can’t afford to lose concentration. That’s the important part. Physically-wise he’s a machine…”

“I know I’m not 100 percent,” Henin said. “I knew it before walking on the court. That’s why I say there are no excuses. I decided to play not being 100 percent. It’s been difficult in the last three days on my elbow and I just did everything that I could that it will be okay, but it wasn’t enough. I think Svetlana played a good match. She has all the credit today.”

“I was leading I think 4-1 and had everything under my control,” Jankovic lamented. “I was playing pretty well. But then I just had some loose errors and she played as well some good points. And little by little, you know, she was getting her momentum, and I started completely going down…It was a bad day for me…It’s the beginning of the season, only my third match of the year. I’m still rusty. I just have to get match tough again and play right in the important times of the match. At the end, my opponent took her opportunities and was the better one.”