Notes: Nerves betray defending champion Gaudio

Can-do attitude

Justine Henin-Hardenne approaches each challenge with a mantra: "Impossible is nothing."

She coined the phrase more than a year ago.

"That's the story of my life," said Henin-Hardenne, who traces her fighting spirit to a young age, when she dreamed of becoming a tennis star.

At the age of 10, Henin-Hardenne attended the 1992 French Open women's final and told her mother that one day she would be back on Roland Garros' center court -- and that maybe she would win.

She made her dream come true by winning the title in 2003. But her mother wasn't there to see it: She died of cancer when Henin-Hardenne was 12.

"A lot of things happened in my life, when I was a little girl and I wanted to become a professional tennis player," Henin-Hardenne said. "I just did everything to become a good tennis player."

And so, she convinced herself that nothing was impossible.

"My coach helped me, my husband helped me. A lot of people helped me," she said. "But I think I found the solution by myself."

Henin-Hardenne overcame two match points in the fourth round Monday to beat U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 7-5. In the quarterfinals, the Belgian faces second-seeded Maria Sharapova.

Walkover

Guillermo Canas needed some convincing that he had won his fourth-round match at the French Open without lifting his racket.

Canas' opponent, Nicolas Kiefer, pulled out hours before their scheduled match because of a pinched nerve in his neck. With the walkover, Canas advanced to the quarterfinals for the second time.

An ATP Tour official gave Canas the news.

"I said 'Are you sure?"' Canas recounted. "They said 'yes.'

"I said 'Are you sure?' I couldn't believe it. They said 'yes.' I asked three or four times. 'Are you sure?' The ATP said 'Yes."'

Canas was thrilled.

"I think it's great to be in the quarterfinal," he said. "I was lucky to win today."

His cell phone rang during his news conference.

"That's probably my mom calling to congratulate me," he said, checking the caller's number on his phone. "No, it's not my mom, so I won't answer."