Tuesday, September 5 2006 15:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Justine Henin-Hardenne lost just one game on today (Sept 5, 2006) in reaching the US Open quarter-finals, but another former winner, Svetlana Kuznetsova, was eliminated.

The second-seeded Belgian, the 2003 champion, needed just 50 minutes to blast past Shahar Peer of Israel 6-1, 6-0.

Kuznetsova looked set to join her after winning the first set against Jelena Jankovic of Serbia. But despite needing treatment for a stomach muscle strain, Jankovic rallied to win 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2 and reach the last eight of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time.

Jankovic will next play the woman Kuznetsova defeated in the 2004 final Russia's Elena Dementieva who had too much firepower for French youngster Aravane Rezai winning 7-5, 6-4.

The line-up for the last eight in the bottom half of the draw was completed when former champion Lindsay Davenport defeated Switzerland's Patty Schnyder 6-6, 6-4 to set up a last eight clash with Henin-Hardenne.

In the men's draw, second seed Rafael Nadal had little difficulty in dismissing Czech veteran Jiri Novak 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

Henin-Hardenne is bidding to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2002/2003 reach four consecutive Grand Slam finals.

She lost to Amelie Mauresmo in the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals, defeating Kuznetsova in the French Open final sandwiched between the two.

Against the over-matched Peer she was even able to get in some match practice with serve and volley tactics which she said she has been working on for the last few weeks.

"It's the kind of game I will have to play in the next few years," the Belgian said.

"I am not as strong as the other players so it's important to do that. I have to take my chances on the court and move forward," she said.

The women's tournament sees its biggest match so far in the evening session on the main Arthur Ashe Stadium court with top seed Mauresmo taking on her old nemesis Serena Williams.

The French woman, winner at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, is bidding to become the first player since Williams in 2002 to win three Grand Slam events in the same calendar year.

But she has a miserable record against the American, losing eight out of nine games.

"My game just likes her game," said Williams who accepted a wildcard for Flushing Meadow after missing most of the year with a knee injury.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the WTA meanwhile announced an agreement to step up out-of-competition drug testing in a move designed to further unify the fight against tennis drug cheats.

The ITF, which already co-ordinates the testing for the ATP men's tour, will assume responsibility for overseeing the testing procedures for the WTA women's events.

Beginning in January, the ITF will enforce penalties and manage and administer the testing for all tournaments sanctioned by the WTA, said ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti.

"It will strengthen and enhance the anti-doping in our sport," said Ricci Bitti.

"We have to be vigilant with anti-doping in our sport. It is the best way to cope with the problems all sports have," she said.

In the men's tournament the start of the second week saw the focus finally switch away from Andre Agassi following his defeat and retirement.



The 36-year-old icon of American tennis bowed out on Sunday after losing in four sets to the unheralded Benjamin Becker of Germany.

But there was no respite for the 25-year-old Miami-based qualifier as he had a fourth round date with another American, former winner and ninth seed Andy Roddick.

Roddick is the only American left in the bottom half of the draw where Nadal is seeded to reach the final.