Henin Goes the Extra Yard

It had been billed as a grudge match, but if animosity ever really existed between Justine Henin-Hardenne, the No5 seed, and Lindsay Davenport, the champion here three years ago, they were too exhausted to prolong any verbal arguments after a fourth-round match which lasted three hours and 13 minutes and ended with the Belgian, having fallen to the ground with cramp at 7-7 in the third set, winning 7-5, 5-7, 9-7 to reach tomorrow's quarter-finals.

"I thought I was going to die," said Henin. It was perhaps an exaggeration but there was no doubt she was in considerable pain and in danger of defaulting. She had already received treatment for blisters when her left thigh became troublesome in the third set, and she was treated again after keeling over with cramp while serving.

Although it was all strictly within the rules, there are those who believe that those rules - particularly with regard to cramp - are unfair. Davenport, who had squandered a 4-1 third-set lead, had to wait at a crucial moment while Henin recovered.

Ironically, the last time they met Henin had accused Davenport of faking injury and thus winning the match. Davenport had never lost in their five previous meetings, and though she admitted after yesterday's game that the Belgian had "played more consistent tennis than any time I played her in the past" she managed a mild dig: "I never thought I would be more fresh after a three-hour match than my opponent."

Immediately on the restart Henin, 0-15 on her serve, came up with a second service ace. "What can you do?" said Davenport, the Wimbledon champion in 1999 and US Open champion the year before. "Just shake your head and say: 'Too good.' She came up with some great shots, but after you lose a match by a couple of points there's no reason to beat yourself up over it."

After undergoing knee surgery last year and missing three of the slams, the 26-year-old Davenport has worked hard to get back into contention in what may be her last year. Henin, the beaten Wimbledon finalist in 2001, is six years her junior and is brimming with ambition, and her greater determination may have given her the edge in the end.

The Belgian's recent marriage has certainly left her more relaxed and secure, although her long-time coach Carlos Rodriguez claimed she would have won the match in the second set "if she had a different head on her shoulders". Henin has been inclined to lose from winning positions and this victory may be pivotal. "Physically it was really hard because there were a lot of tough rallies, but to win was great for my confidence," she said.

It remains to be seen whether she can recover in time for her quarter-final against Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual, who defeated Denisa Chladkova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3 to reach her sec ond grand slam quarter-final, the first being eight years ago on her French Open debut. Assuming Henin's thigh problem is not serious, however, she is the clear favourite.

As expected, Venus Williams eased into the last eight with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Australia's Nicole Pratt, and she will play the Slovakian No8 seed Daniela Hantuchova, who beat Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 7-5, 6-3. Hantuchova, 19, is coached by Britain's Nigel Sears and has now reached the quarter-finals of the past three grand slams. She lost in the third round to Williams here last year.

Only Anna Kournikova is more adored by the photographers but unlike the Russian Hantuchova already has a singles title. Williams will be on her guard but there is potential for an upset if the teenager can raise her game another notch. "She'll definitely be motivated to get a win against me," said Williams, "because she hasn't been able to yet." The world No2 is clearly expecting to continue that trend.