Henin-Hardenne, Pierce Are Semi-Automatic

If people thought the women’s semifinals at last year’s French Open were tedious, Thursday’s weak offerings made them look downright competitive.

Nadia Petrova of Russia won only five games against Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium in the first semifinal, and Elena Likhovtseva of Russia came away with two in the second semifinal against Mary Pierce of France.

Noncompetitive tennis was not exclusive to the women. The men’s doubles match after the semifinals was ended by an injury. Bob and Mike Bryan of Camarillo were beating Daniel Nestor of Canada and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas, 6-3, 3-2, when Nestor had to stop because of a wrist injury.

Even so, it’s a decent bet spectators were not asking for refunds. Henin-Hardenne, about as close to a native as one can get without having been born in France, was boosted by strong crowd support from traveling Belgian fans. And although the 30-year-old Pierce was born in Canada and raised in the United States, the public has long since accepted her as French. The score line: The 10th-seeded Henin-Hardenne defeated No. 7 Petrova, 6-2, 6-3, in 68 minutes, and Pierce beat Likhovtseva, 6-1, 6-1, in 58 minutes, facing only two break points.

Saturday, Pierce will be trying to win her second French Open title and third Grand Slam, having won here in 2000 and at the Australian Open in 1995.

The last 30-year-old to reach the French Open final was Martina Navratilova in 1987. Steffi Graf beat her, 6-4, 4-6, 8-6.

Henin-Hardenne is on a three-tournament, 23-match winning streak on clay. It is the longest winning streak on clay since Graf went 32-0 in 1987. The other significant women’s mark on clay in the last 20 years was 22-0 by Monica Seles on her way to the French title in 1990.

“I love it,” Henin-Hardenne said of clay. “I know the other players don’t like to play me on clay court and I really enjoy this kind of situation.”

She smiled when she said that and it was almost like Martina Hingis in her day, grinning the Chucky-doll smile after slicing up opponents with clever shots.

This was not the easiest victory in the 23-match streak, but close to it. Of the 23, 11 have gone three sets, and the closest call was here in the fourth round against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia when Henin-Hardenne saved two match points.

In three matches, Pierce has never won so much as a set against Henin-Hardenne. In their most recent meeting, Henin-Hardenne won, 6-4, 6-4, in the quarterfinals at the Olympics in Athens last summer. Henin-Hardenne will be appearing in her fourth Grand Slam final, Pierce her fifth.

Henin-Hardenne won here in 2003, but a debilitating virus kept her out for most of 2004, so she often speaks about a new appreciation for her current position in the sport.

“It’s just the best gift I could get for my 23rd birthday,” said Henin-Hardenne, who turned 23 Wednesday. “I was telling my coach and husband before coming here, if I would have only one more Grand Slam final, I wish it would be here. I hope I will have many other Grand Slam finals, but this one is very special.”

Pierce also has a new perspective on her career and life. After winning here in 2000, her tennis stalled because of injuries, including a back problem that raised questions about possible retirement.

“That was never a desire of mine, but it did cross my mind,” Pierce said. “My back injury ... when I was coming back, it hurt again and then I had to stop again. The doctors weren’t really able to tell me if I was ever going to not have pain, how much pain, when it would come, when it would go, and why.

“So I was really like, ‘Hmm, maybe I won’t be able to ever play again.’ I wasn’t sure. So that’s why I really appreciate things much more now. Even all the little things.”