September 10, 2006	Sunday	Sha'aban 16, 1427

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NEW YORK, Sept 9: Maria Sharapova will shoot for her first US Open title later on Saturday after upsetting world No 1 Amelie Mauresmo in three sets in the semi-finals.

Sharapova will face Justine Henin-Hardenne, who reached her fourth Grand Slam final of the year by beating 19th-seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 on Friday.

Third seed Sharapova struck 20 winners in the day's later match, double the number from Mauresmo, to win 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 and reach the second Grand Slam final of her career.

Frenchwoman Mauresmo, the 27-year-old Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, played a miserable first set and won just seven points in the final frame.

The top seed secured her only service break in the last game of the second set but was unable to keep the momentum going.

“It was tough to get broken in that last game of the second set,” said the 19-year-old Sharapova. “She just played some good tennis. But I hung in there.

“I went to the changeover

and thought, 'It's all right. It's one

set all. You haven't lost the match

yet. Now it's equal.' So I just kept going.”

Five-time Grand Slam winner Henin-Hardenne, who will become world No 1 if she beats Sharapova, has a 4-1 record against the Russian after a four-match winning streak.

“Well, I had a terrible record against Amelie (0-3) and that ended today,” said Sharapova. “And I have a terrible record against Justine.

“So I hope that's a good luck charm at the Open and I will turn it around tomorrow.”

Appearing in her first Grand Slam semi-final, the 21-year-old Jankovic played aggressively and took

advantage of a sub-par performance by Henin-Hardenne to lead by a set and 4-2.

But after double-faulting on her serve for a 5-2 lead, nerves seemed to get the best of the Serbian and she unravelled while losing 10 straight games and the match.

Henin-Hardenne credited the comeback both to her improved play and Jankovic's collapse.

“I was pretty nervous at the beginning of the match. I wasn't in good rhythm,” said the Belgian. She was playing terrific at that time. She was just on fire.”

But the 24-year-old said that when she trimmed Jankovic's second-set lead to 5-4 she felt much better.

Friday’s results:

Women’s singles:

Semi-finals: 3-Maria Sharapova (Russia) beat 1-Amelie Mauresmo (France) 6-0, 4-6, 6-0; 2-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) beat 19-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

Women’s doubles:

Semi-finals: 8-Dinara Safina (Russia)/Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) beat 1-Lisa Raymond (US)/Samantha Stosur (Australia) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3; Nathalie

Dechy (France)/Vera Zvonareva (Russia) beat 6-Kveta Peschke (Czech Republic)/Francesca Schiavone (Italy) 6-4, 6-1.

Men’s doubles:

Semi-finals: 6-Martin Damm (Czech Republic)/Leander Paes (India) beat 4-Paul Hanley (Australia)/Kevin Ullyett (Zimbabwe) 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (9-7), 7-5; 2-Jonas Bjorkman (Sweden)/Max Mirnyi (Belarus) beat Ashley Fisher (Australia)/Tripp Phillips (US) 6-1 6-4.Mixed doubles:

Semi-finals: Kveta Peschke/

Martin Damm (Czech Republic)

beat Nicole Pratt/Paul Hanley (Australia) 6-4, 6-1; 5-Martina Navratilova/Bob Bryan (US) beat Meghann Shaughnessy/Justin Gimelstob (US) walkover.

—Reuters