Paris set for all-Belgian battle

BBC COVERAGE BBC Interactive: Live coverage from 1300 BST BBC website: Daily video highlights (UK only), plus all the latest news and scores BBC Five Live Sports Extra: Live commentary from 1300 BST

Justine Henin-Hardenne says friendship will be put to one side when she faces fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters in the French Open semi-finals on Thursday.

The pair have never been close but Henin-Hardenne says their relationship improved during Belgium's Fed Cup win over Russia in April.

"We put the problems of the past aside. We have a lot of respect for each other," said the defending champion.

"We were part of a team. Today we're competitors again."

Henin-Hardenne will be targetting her 13th straight victory at Roland Garros, and her 21st in 22 matches there, but she insists she is not the favourite against the second seed.

"I'm sure Kim has said I would be the favourite on paper," she said.

"I think it will be 50/50. It will be wonderful because in any case we'll have a Belgian player in the final, which is a victory."

It's not a tactical thing, it's who wants to win more Nicole Vaidisova

The pair have met twice at the French Open in the past, with Clijsters winning their first meeting in the 2001 semis.

"It is great to be up against her," said Clijsters.

"That's where it all started for both of us and we've both had such a great career since, so being in the same situation again is nice."

In the other semi-final, rising Czech star Nicole Vaidisova, the only player in the draw without a Grand Slam title to her name, faces resurgent Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

FIVE LIVE VIEW Clijster's main advantage is her power and her athleticism around the court SC Five Live: Have your say

Vaidisova has already knocked out world number one Amelie Mauresmo and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and she said: "I'll have to more concentrate on my game, try to be as focused as possible and fight.

"It's not a tactical thing, it's who wants to win more and who's going to grind there longer for it."

Kuznetsova admitted she was struck by nerves in the first set of her quarter-final win over Dinara Safina.

But she explained: "I just want it so much.

"Sometimes I cannot control my emotions on the court because I just want it really badly. I just want to be there and enjoy."