Henin reaches Dubai final

Henin beats Kuznetsova to reach Dubai final

By Barry Wood

Justine Henin overcame third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 1-6 6-4 6-0 to reach the Dubai Open final on Friday, boosting her record against the Russian to 13 wins in 14 meetings.

Top seed Henin, who won the tournament in 2003, 2004 and 2006, has never been defeated at the event and now has 15 consecutive wins in Dubai.

Henin made a dreadful start, nervously dropping the first seven points and then conceding her serve to give Kuznetsova a 2-0 lead.

The Russian was quick to take advantage, attacked well, and then broke again to lead 5-1 when the Belgian hit two consecutive double-faults.

Henin played a little more positively in the second set, breaking to lead 3-1. But a forced forehand error allowed Kuznetsova to break back in the seventh game, and Henin's unbeaten record in Dubai looked to be in danger.

In a tense finale to the set, Kuznetsova failed to convert a game point for 5-5, and Henin eventually levelled the match with her fourth set point, hitting a winner off a second serve.

Henin then looked far sharper in the final set, hitting a succession of winners while forcing a tiring Kuznetsova's into errors.

Second seed Amelie Mauresmo of France and fifth-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic were playing their semi-final later on Friday.