AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. – Top-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne won her seventh straight match Friday, defeating Monica Seles 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Bausch & Lomb Championships.
Henin-Hardenne is seeking her second straight title. Last week, she ended Serena Williams’ 21-0 start to the season in the final of the Family Circle Cup. Henin-Hardenne will face Daniela Hantuchova or Elena Dementieva in the semifinals Saturday.
Seles, a two-time champion at Amelia Island, won two matches in her return after a seven-week layoff because of a foot injury. She almost withdrew this week when she woke up Tuesday with a sore neck.
The first set was easy for Henin-Hardenne, but Seles played much better during a second set that lasted nearly an hour. Seles had a chance to break serve and go ahead 4-2, but she overhit a backhand off a second serve.
Tied 3-3, Seles missed an easy volley on game point and gave up the break. Serving while ahead 5-4, Henin-Hardenne saved a break point with a 113 mph ace. She followed with a 114 mph ace and closed out the match with a 112 mph service winner.
Henin-Hardenne finished with eight aces.