Justine Henin battles to keep clash with rival alive

Justine Henin fought hard to stay on course for an eagerly awaited clash with arch-rival Kim Clijsters in the final of the Brisbane International.

Henin, in her first tournament since coming out of retirement, had cruised through to the third round but today needed two hours and 20 minutes to win 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 against Melinda Czink of Hungary.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion said: "This was something I needed - a tough match, a good fight. It was a high level of tennis."

Henin now faces Serbia's Ana Ivanovic while the other semi-final will see Clijsters, who beat Czech Lucie Safarova 6-1, 0-6, 6-4, play Germany's Andrea Petkovic.

There is no love lost between the two Beligans and many in tennis believe it was Clijster's shock victory in the US Open last September - having just returned to the game - that convinced Henin to end her 19month exile from the sport.