Four-time champ Henin crashed out of French Open

PARIS: Justine Henin’s hopes of a fifth French Open title vanished with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 fourth-round defeat by Australian seventh seed Sam Stosur on Monday.

Henin, a four-time champion returning to the game after a 20-month stint in retirement, looked set to canter through after sealing the opening set in 32 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen. But Stosur, a semifinalist last year, ripped through the second and although she let slip an early break in the decider she broke the Henin serve once again for a 5-4 lead and served out for the match, sealing it in an hour and 46 minutes with a confident overhead.

Stosur showed a touch of nerves when delivering a double fault, one of seven in the match, on her first match point but she made no mistake with the second.

Henin left to a standing ovation from the crowd but it will be Stosur who faces American top seed Serena Williams for a place in the semifinals.

Henin said that she had felt more nervous and uncomfortable on court than usual having played for five straight days because of a succession of rain delays.