Henin Crashes Out of Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia -Maria Sharapova has rocked a stunning victory over World's No-1 Justin Hennin and ended her 32-match winning streak. Henin had not lost in 32 matches since falling in the semi-finals of last year's Wimbledon, but Sharapova utterly dominated the top-seeded Belgian from the outset.

Sharapova opened the match in imposing fashion following up a comfortable service hold to 15 with an equally easy break to 15 by pressing the US Open champion into a series of errors with her massive forehand.

From there the Russian easily held her next two service games while pressing Henin to repeated deuce games on the Belgian's serve.

Henin only once looked as if she would challenge the former world number one, as Sharapova was unable to serve out for the opening set on the first time of asking as a string of unforced errors allowed the top seed to break back in the ninth game.

Henin then saved three set points in the tenth before the Russian finally confirmed the break of serve and the opener blasting the gorgeous backhand pass into the outstretched racked of the lunging Belgian, who could only watch the ball dribble into the bottom of the net.

Despite some amazing rallies from both players in the second set, Sharapova was clearly in command, reeling off winner after winner from all angles to rack up 30 clean winners to Henin's unusually low count of 11.

The Belgian also totalled a surprising five double faults to Sharapova's one, with the final double critically handing Sharapova a break point in the fourth game of the second set.

Sharapova confirmed the double break advantage with an amazing forehand winner angled just inside the ad court as she faded off of her back-foot from well behind the baseline.

The 20-year-old Russian then relied on her big first serve to save a pair of break back points in the fifth, before rushing ahead 40-15 on her rival's serve in the sixth.

Maria Sharapova said: "It's funny because I felt like I was in my own bubble today. It's amazing when you go out on the court and feel you're doing the right things to beat such an amazing player as her. It's just incredible...... We [Jankovic and I] kind of grew up together, practising at the same Academy. It's a bit strange, we were always in the same groups, playing matches against each other. I think it was both our dreams to play in a Grand Slam semi-final against each other."