DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Justine Henin lost in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, falling to Francesca Schiavone of Italy 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4) on Thursday.
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"She played really well," Henin said. "She was hitting hard, coming to the net, slicing ... really mixing it up. I had my chances but I did not take them, whereas she did. She was definitely a better player and deserved to win."
Schiavone's previous best finish in Dubai was a quarterfinal loss to Henin in 2006. She will play eighth-seeded Elena Dementieva in the semifinals on Friday. Dementieva beat third-seeded Ana Ivanovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.
"I have beaten (Amelie) Mauresmo when she was world No. 1 in a Fed Cup match, but definitely this win against someone like Justine, who always plays at such a high level, is the biggest win of my career," Schiavone said.
Henin had won 17 consecutive matches in Dubai.
The top-ranked Henin, who won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award last week, earned her 41st career title and first of 2008 this month at the Diamond Games in her home country of Belgium.
The defending champion in Dubai, however, lost her chance to win the Golden Slam when she was eliminated in the Australian Open quarterfinals by eventual champion Maria Sharapova.
After playing in Melbourne, Henin had cortisone treatment on her right knee.
Second-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia advanced to the semifinals at the Aviation Club by beating Mauresmo of France 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), and fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic moved on when Anna Chakvetadze of Russia retired because of a left thigh injury after losing the first set 6-1.
