TENNIS/Eastbourne International Women's Open:Justine Henin stepped up a gear to cruise into the semi-finals of the International Women's Open at Eastbourne with a 6-2 6-2 success over Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic.
The Belgian remains on course for another final showdown with Wimbledon conqueror Amelie Mauresmo after the French star endured a long wait off court, twice lost her serve and blew two match points before winning 6-3 6-4 against Israel's Shahar Peer.
Henin, the world number one and defending champion who arrived at Eastbourne on the back of a third successive French open triumph, admitted to more than a few flaws in her grasscourt game after passing her first test on the surface since last year's Wimbledon when she beat Polish teenager Agnieszka Radwanska.
But Henin's sheer class almost completely fazed another 18-year-old, fast-rising Russian star Vaidisova, who played into her opponent's hands with a ragged display and three successive double faults right at the death.
Wimbledon remains the only grand slam title to elude the Belgian and she said: "It is still a dream for me - but not an obsession. "All I can do is make sure I reach my best level for it after a long season on clay, which is my favourite surface "The way I played today, the way I served and the way I performed tactically was great.
"Whether it is enough to win Wimbledon I don't know and tomorrow is another day and a different kind of match but I'm clear in my head about what I want to do on court in these conditions."
Vaidisova, who climbed to seventh in the rankings before a wrist injury sidelined her last month, was impressive in beating Britain's Elena Baltacha, but looked ill at ease and tense as Henin raced through the first five games. Although there was a sudden reversal when the Czech player finally fired an ace to hold serve at 1-5 before Henin briefly lost her way following a dubious call, she soon showed her class to take the first set. After a superb backhand pass down the line saw her break for a 4-2 lead in the second set, the rest was a formality.
Henin will now play Marion Bartoli after the Frenchwoman put out fourth seed Elena Dementieva, who surrendered tamely in a repeat of their French Open third round meeting - only this was even more one-sided as Bartoli dropped just one game.
She said: "I knew from our match in Paris she was struggling for form and I tried to put her under pressure right from the start and it worked."
Injury-prone Russian Nadia Petrova needed on-court treatment for aggravated back and thigh strains but eventually overcame Austrian left-hander Sybille Bammer in a three-hour marathon. Petrova came back from a set down winning an error-strewn contest 6-7 (6/8) 7-5 6-4 to earn a semi-final clash with Mauresmo.
Another French hope, Nathalie Dechy, pulled out of the doubles with a thigh-strain to safeguard her Wimbledon participation.
