Zheng Jie eases past Kirilenko to set up Henin showdown

Written By DNA Web Team | Updated:

China's Zheng Jie advanced to her second grand slam semi-final after she demolished Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-3 at the Australian Open.

China's Zheng Jie advanced to her second grand slam semi-final after she demolished Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-3 at the Australian Open on Tuesday.                                           

Zheng, who became the first woman to advance to a grand slam semi-final as a wildcard at Wimbledon in 2008, will now meet former world number one and seven-time grand slam winner Justine Henin for a place in the final.                                           

Henin, who is playing in her second tournament back after an 18-month retirement and is herself a wildcard for the Australian Open, beat Nadia Petrova 7-6 7-5 in the first quarter-final on Rod Laver Arena.                                           

Kirilienko, who had her left thigh heavily strapped before the match started, was stretching and rotating her right hip during the first set and had to take an injury time out between sets and also received treatment several times during the second.