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Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) celebrates victory over Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 17 Sep 2006

Kim Clijsters (BEL) congratulates Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)

Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 17 Sep 2006

Francesca Schiavone (ITA) congratulates Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)

Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 17 Sep 2006

17 Sep 2006 - Spiroudome, Charleroi, BEL

As it happened: Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) v Francesca Schiavone (ITA)

Justine Henin-Hardenne edged out Francesca Schiavone 64 75 to put Belgium 2-1 up in this Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final

Henin-Hardenne d. Schiavone 64 75

Game By Game Updates:

Henin-Hardenne d. Schiavone 64 75
How does she do it? Henin-Hardenne looked dead and buried in that second set but somehow she turned it round to put Belgium 2-1 up in this Final. Henin-Hardenne was unstoppable in the last game, striking the ball maginficently and playing simply too well for Schiavone. As a pass from Schiavone floats wide on matchpoint, Henin-Hardenne raises her arms aloft, delighted to have scored another point for her country. On the other side of the net, Schiavone is a picture of despair. Henin-Hardenne then hurdles the barriers to embrace her husband Pierre-Yves, who is standing in the corber of the stadium.
There will be a short break before the fourth rubber begins.

Henin-Hardenne 6-4 6-5 *Schiavone
Henin-Hardenne is on a roll, suddenly filled with confidence and clearly sensing that she can finish the match right here - the momentum has swung since that break when Schiavone went off court. Maybe that galvanised the Belgian, or disrupted Schiavone's concentration a little. It's going to be tough for Schiavone to hold serve and take us to a tiebreak.

Henin-Hardenne* 6-4 5-5 Schiavone
Henin-Hardenne breaks back to level the set at five-all. Both players are pumped up and throwing everything into this rubber, and the quality of tennis is getting better and better. That game featured some great points but Henin-Hardenne was just too tough.

Henin-Hardenne 6-4 4-5 *Schiavone
Henin-Hardenne serves out the game and now Schiavone will serve to take us to a final set.

Schiavone is back, welcomed with a wall of jeers from the crowd. She explains to Kim Clijsters as she passes her, and the two share a laugh. The spirit between these two teams has been good all week.

There's a break in play with Henin-Hardenne 30-0 up as Schiavone goes off court - to attend a call of nature. Referee Wayne McKewen comes on court to explain the situation to the Belgians, who don't appear too overjoyed at the situation, especially Henin-Hardenne.

Henin-Hardenne* 6-4 3-5 Schiavone
Great game from the Italian to get within a game of levelling the rubber at one set apiece. She pumps her fist at the bench, who are more and more animated.

Henin-Hardenne 6-4 3-4 *Schiavone
Henin-Hardenne saves two break points and finally manages to edge what could be a significant game to get back to 3-4.
It's all getting a bit heated. The Italians were unhappy with a line call at deuce and spent some time arguing their case, to loud jeers from the crowd. Henin-Hardenne then served a double-fault and kicked the ball back down the court in anger, so the Italians returned the jeers.

Henin-Hardenne* 6-4 2-4 Schiavone
Thanks to a forehand pass, Henin-Hardenne has one of the breaks back. Schiavone is in conversation with her captain Corrado Barazzutti as she walks back from the net, looking frustrated. Lots of Italian gesticulating.

Injury time-out: Belgium
Henin-Hardenne is receiving massage to her right knee, and is also putting eye drops in.

Henin-Hardenne 6-4 1-4 *Schiavone
Schiavone secures the double-break, and it looks like we are heading for a third set. Errors are flowing from Henin-Hardenne and she doesn't look comfortable.

Henin-Hardenne* 6-4 1-3 Schiavone
Schiavone saves a break point but manages to squeak out the game - gutsy.
Both players seem frustrated with their games, talking to themselves in between points and swatting the ball away angrily after mistakes. Henin-Hardenne seems particularly frustrated with her forehand, which is finding the net too frequently for her - and the crowd's - liking.

Henin-Hardenne 6-4 1-2 *Schiavone
Schiavone holds but then breaks for 2-1, a misjudged drop shot from Henin-Hardenne falling into the net on break point. Schiavone charges to the chair, sensing a fightback.

Henin-Hardenne 6-4 1-0 *Schiavone
Henin-Hardenne holds for the first game of the second set.

Wait a minute - Pennetta is now sitting next to Carlos Moya, in the row behind her teammates. Still no sign of Santangelo...

Mara Santangelo is conspicuous by her absence on the Italian bench, while Flavia Pennetta - with boyfriend Carlos Moya just behind - is still there. Will Santangelo face Kirsten Flipkens in the fourth rubber?

First set Belgium
Henin-Hardenne* 6-4 0-0 Schiavone
Henin-Hardenne takes the first set on her fourth set point, courtesy of a double fault. She was helped in that game by some errors from the Italian, especially on the volley and serve.

"It's a shame to see the set end on a double fault, but appropriate considering the problems these girls have had on serve" – Eleanor Preston on Fed Cup Radio

Henin-Hardenne 5-4 *Schiavone
Schiavone breaks back thanks to some more poor serving from Henin-Hardenne, a netted forehand from the Belgian giving Schiavone the game. This has been a real battle of a first set, neither player playing well consistently, but scrapping for their lives.

Henin-Hardenne* 5-3 Schiavone
Schiavone holds and so Henin-Hardenne will serve for the first set.

Henin-Hardenne 5-2 *Schiavone
Two routine holds of service take the score to 5-2. Both players haven't served at their best so far, but there were signs in the last games that the early nerves are starting to ease.

Henin-Hardenne 4-1 *Schiavone
Henin-Hardenne saves a couple of break points to consolidate the break - just. Schiavone is jeered for querying a call, while she also mishits a ball into the roof, where it nearly lodges. The scoreline doesn't reflect how close this rubber has been so far.

Henin-Hardenne* 3-1 Schiavone
That could be a big game as Henin-Hardenne breaks after several deuces, and a couple of double faults from Schiavone. The hitting is ferocious and both girls aren't afraid to come into the net.

A Mexican wave, started by the Belgian bench, sweeps the stands during the changeover. Kim Clijsters - here just to support her country - is recovering well from her wrist injury judging by her enthusiastic use of cheerstix.

Henin-Hardenne 2-1 *Schiavone
The first hold of the match - albeit after a struggle - and the first 'Allez!' of the match from Henin-Hardenne.

Henin-Hardenne* 1-1 Schiavone
Schiavone returns the favour and drops her serve to love with some nervous mistakes.

Henin-Hardenne 0-1 *Schiavone
Henin-Hardenne makes a succession of errors and Schiavone breaks in the first game

Henin-Hardenne* 0 -0 Schiavone
The match is underway with Henin-Hardenne serving first

13:55 hrs
Kim Clijsters is on the Belgian bench and, like Sabine Appelmans, got a rapturous reception from the crowd.
Meanwhile a Belgian female fan is at the side of the court in front of us sporting a red yellow and black wig, waving a placard and dancing along to the music. The PA has just mixed Cotton-Eyed Joe with Prodigy, which must be a first.

13:50 hrs
The atmosphere has definitely gone up a level from yesterday. The person in charge of the PA clearly has a large collection of Euro-techno dance tracks at his/her disposal, and isn't afraid to use it.
We've just seen Sabine Appelmans - looking stunning in a cut-off trousers and very high black leather boots - receive the ITF/ITHF Fed Cup Award of Excellence, for services for Belgium in Fed Cup. Pictures to follow...

13:15 hrs
You can feel the tension in the Spiroudome as fans start to fill the seats, with less than an hour to go until the resumption of play. The volume on the PA system, which is belting out some classic tracks, is steadily being cranked up. There seem to be even more people decked out in flags and hats than yesterday, and the stadium is also noticeably cooler and less like a furnace than on Saturday.

All times local time (CET)