MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)—Justine Henin’s run at the Australian Open finished in the third round Friday, losing 6-4, 7-6 (8) to Svetlana Kuznetsova just a year after reaching the final in her comeback to Grand Slam tennis.
It was Henin’s first loss in a major to Kuznetsova, the former French and U.S. Open champion, and her worst run at a Grand Slam event since Wimbledon in 2005.
Henin was only weeks into a comeback from a career break from the tour when she lost the final last year to Serena Williams, the third time in four appearances that she’d reached the championship match at Melbourne. Her comeback season was derailed when she injured her right elbow at Wimbledon and didn’t play again in 2010.
“There are some days that are harder than others for a lot of reasons, physical, mental, your adversary also, sometimes a style of game that is harder to manage, the pressure,” the seven-time Grand Slam winner said. “But obviously I wanted to play, I wanted to win. I wanted to go as far as possible.”
Kuznetsova will meet French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in the fourth round.
Caroline Wozniacki, playing her major with the No. 1-ranking, advanced in a routine way, then had a very unusual news conference. Also advancing were No. No. 8 Victoria Azarenka and No. 9 Li Na, a semifinalist here last year.
Maria Sharapova, who won the 2008 Australian women’s title, struggled to a comeback 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Julia Goerges of Germany.
Defending champion Roger Federer beat Xavier Malisse 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to earn his 57th career wins at the Australian Open, overhauling Stefan Edberg’s Open Era record.
“It’s very nice, but he still stays my idol,” said Federer, a 16-time Grand Slam winner, as he acknowledged yet another record.
He will next play Tommy Robredo, who beat Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.
No. 3 Novak Djokovic’s third-round match lasted only one set—the 2008 champion was leading 6-2 when his Serbian Davis Cup-winning teammate Viktor Troicki retired with a stomach muscle strain.
Djokovic next plays No. 14 Nicolas Almagro, who beat No. 17 Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 7-6 (8), 6-3.
Andy Roddick was having trouble countering Robin Haase in the first set before his powerful serve kicked in. He finished with 32 aces in a 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-2 win. No. 6 Tomas Berdych beat Richard Gasquet 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-2.
Henin put up quite a fight against Kuznetsova, despite the constant pain in her elbow.
Kuznetsova twice had chances to serve out the match but Henin broke her both times. In a fluctuating tiebreaker, Kuznetsova was ahead 6-4 before Henin sent a service return skidding down the line and took the next point. She netted a forehand to give Kuznetsova another match point at 8-7 but again hit a powerful forehand service return winner.
Henin finally lost when she sent a forehand wide, giving Kuznetsova only her third win in 19 head-to-head meetings dating to 2003. She had nine double-faults and 41 unforced errors in an uncharacteristically sloppy performance.
“I know I’m not 100 percent—I knew it before walking on the court,” she said. “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 OK, but it wasn’t enough.”
The 2004 Australian Open champion said Kuznetsova was more aggressive, went to the net and hit more winners, so she deserved the victory.
Kuznetsova was relieved to get through in straight sets.
“I was not scared; I was not afraid when I went to the court. But of course I get tight,” she said. “I kind of had a perfect match, 6-4, 5-4, serving.
“Then the nerves came. Then started to do a little bit of ‘Show Time,’ you know, it’s like comedy—women’s drama going on.
“So I’m pretty pleased. It was like a lottery a little bit, the tiebreak.”
In the previous match on center court, Wozniacki beat Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 6-3 to avenge last week’s loss in a tuneup tournament.
Then she turned the tables on the media. Hearing she’d come across as a bit boring in recent interviews, she opened a post-match news conference with a funny monologue, saying she knew what would be asked so she’d just give her stock answers one-by-one. Then she invited questions on “more interesting” topics. Those included the piano, cricket, soccer and what she’s looking for in a boyfriend.
Wozniacki, playing her first Grand Slam as the world No. 1, is seeking her first major win.
“I am happy I got the revenge since I lost to her in Sydney last week; It was not an easy match; She went out there, she was really on fire; You know, I’m happy to be through to the next round,” the 20-year-old Danish player worked through the answers to the usual questions.
No. 6 Schiavone beat Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-0, 7-6 (2). Li, who lost to Serena Williams in two tiebreaker sets in last year’s semis, advanced to a meeting against Azarenka with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Roddick overcame a slow start before powering to victory.
The eighth-seeded Roddick is seeking his second Grand Slam title nearly seven years after his first—the 2003 U.S. Open.
Haase received treatment on his right ankle early in the first set, getting it heavily taped after appearing to stumble on a shot. The trainer was back out at the end of the set for Haase, who broke Roddick’s serve twice.
The Dutchman, despite the injury, made the shot of the tournament so far, chasing down a Roddick lob and hitting a flick backhand over the net while facing the back of the court. Haase won the point two shots later.
“He was playing great early on,” Roddick said. “The biggest thing was just to turn it around in the second set.”