Henin sets up clash with Ivanovic

Justine Henin needed six match points and almost 2 1/2 hours to finally put away Melinda Czink and reach the semi-finals of her comeback tournament.

Henin beat Czink 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) at the Brisbane International on Thursday in a quarterfinal lasting 2 hours, 21 minutes.

It has been a memorable comeback for the Belgian. She next faces another former No. 1, Ana Ivanovic, in the semi finals.

Henin, a seven-time major winner, struggled at times in a match that opened with five straight service breaks.

She dropped a set for the first time in three matches of her comeback, and wasted a break and three match points in the third.

Henin clinched the match on her sixth match point — after earning a 6-3 lead with an ace in the tiebreaker — 24 minutes after her first.

“That’s the kind of match that I need — not that long maybe,” Henin said. “It’s a perfect preparation for me.