AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Semi-final Preview

Justine Henin-Hardenne FRA (8) vs. Maria Sharapova RUS (4) . Henin-Hardenne has been playing the most consistently accurate tennis of all of the top players. She served better and returned better than the #1 Player in the World who also happens to be 8 inches taller than her. She will not be afraid of playing someone even taller in her next match. Sharapova basically got through her match against Nadia Petrova by sheer will and with a lot of help from the mentally erratic lower ranked Russian. Her mental toughness and sheer determination to fight to win every single point combined with her ability to scramble and hit offensive shots from defensive court positions make her incredibly fun to watch and a formidable opponent. However, Sharapova will be facing a 4-time Grand slam winner in Justine Henin-Hardenne, who through some nefarious, Faustian pact has maximized the tennis playing power from her diminutive frame. PREDICTION: Henin Hardenne in 3 sets.

Amélie Mauresmo FRA (3) vs. Kim Clijsters (2) BEL. Although reports of Clijsters fragile state have been greatly exaggerated, she still has been averaging well over 45 unforced errors per match in the last few rounds. In her quarterfinal match against Hingis which the Summer 2005 Kim Clijsters would have won easily in straight sets, the Winter 2006 edition blew a 2-0, triple break point lead to lose six consecutive games and the middle set. It was only her blistering, Williams sister-hardened forehand which kept her in contention as she repeatedly shanked her usually dependent backhand. However, she did pull it out in the end. Mauresmo had just 2 unforced errors in her Round of 16 match and was on the court when Patty Schnyder handed the Frenchwoman a ticket to her second Australian Open semifinal. As Brad Gilbert says, "spin to win." Mauresmo's artistic game will provide her the right tools to exploit Clijster's reduced capacity. PREDICTION: Mauresmo in 3 sets.

I'll have a prediction on the Women's Final later in the week.