Former champion Maria Sharapova and five-time major winner Justine Henin-Hardenne reached the Wimbledon semifinals Tuesday, July 3, 2006 with straight-set victories. Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo and Kim Clijsters also got there.
Sharapova, the winner in 2004, outplayed fellow Russian Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-4 and is now in the semis at the All England Club for the third time and sixth time at a Grand Slam event. The fourth-seeded Sharapova will next face Mauresmo, who downed former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the semifinals for the fourth time in her last four appearances.
Henin-Hardenne, hoping to complete a collection of all four Grand Slams by winning Wimbledon, beat French qualifier Severine Bremond 6-4, 6-4.
No. 3 Henin-Hardenne, who hasn't dropped a set in five matches, will play fellow Belgian Clijsters. The No. 2-seeded Clijsters was a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Li Na, the first Chinese player to get this far at a Grand Slam.
Henin-Hardenne has a 10-9 career advantage against Clijsters, including wins last month at the French Open and Eastbourne grass-court tournament. Henin-Hardenne has a 4-2 lead in Grand Slam matches.
{{/usCountry}}Henin-Hardenne has a 10-9 career advantage against Clijsters, including wins last month at the French Open and Eastbourne grass-court tournament. Henin-Hardenne has a 4-2 lead in Grand Slam matches.
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