Madrid: Justine Henin-Hardenne clinched the year-end number one spot when she ended Maria Sharapova's 19-match winning streak with a 6-2, 7-6 win over the Russian in the semi-finals of the WTA Championships on Saturday.
The three-times French Open champion produced a wonderful display full of guile and determination to overcome the 19-year-old and secure her place in a first Championships final.
The 24-year-old Belgian took the game to Sharapova from the off and forced her opponent into a series of uncharacteristic errors with her pin-point backhand and clever serves.
Sharapova, who had not dropped a set on the way to the semis, looked bemused as the pint-sized Belgian returned everything she could throw at her and was never able to get into her stride.
Henin-Hardenne, who reached the final of all four grand slams this year, will play either defending champion Amelie Mauresmo or two-time winner Kim Clijsters in Sunday's final.
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