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Henin-Hardenne, Petrova Advance Associated Press
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BERLIN - Defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne beat Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-4, 6-2 Friday to advance to the quarterfinals of the German Open.
Henin-Hardenne will face either Martina Hingis or top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo, who play later Friday.
Nadia Petrova extended her clay-court winning streak to 13 matches, struggling past fellow Russian Dinara Safina, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Petrova will play Li Na of China, who reached the semifinals of a major event for the first time by fighting off three match points in a 2-6, 7-6 (3), (7-6 (1) win over fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder.
"It was hard, exciting," Li said. "Compared to the last two times I lost to her, I had a good philosophy. I was calm concentrated."
The fourth-ranked Petrova lost the first set and trailed 3-0 in the second before rallying. A day earlier at this key French Open tuneup, she complained of fatigue after playing more than two hours and three sets against Zheng Jie of China.
"Maybe I won't get any rest until I end my career," said Petrova, who won clay-court events at Amelia Island, Fla., and Charleston, S.C.
Hingis beat Elena Dementieva on Thursday, the third top 10 player she has beaten since returning after a three-year absence from the game.
Released on: May 13, 2006
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