Henin-Hardenne stuns Sharapova in WTA semis

MADRID: Justine Henin-Hardenne clinched the year-end number one spot when she ended Maria Sharapova's 19-match winning streak with a 6-2 7-6 win over the Russian in the semi-finals of the WTA Championships on Saturday.   

The three-times French Open champion produced a wonderful display full of guile and determination to overcome the 19-year-old and secure her place in the Championships final for the first time in her career.

The 24-year-old Belgian took the game to Sharapova from the off and forced her opponent into a series of uncharacteristic errors with her pin-point backhand and clever serves.   

Sharapova, who had not dropped a set on the way to the semis, looked bemused as the pint-sized Belgian returned everything she could throw at her and was never able to get into her stride.   

Henin-Hardenne, who reached the final of all four grand slams this year, will play either defending champion Amelie Mauresmo or two-time winner Kim Clijsters in Sunday's final.