US OPEN TENNIS ....... LADIES FINAL

Treat in store tonight, when Maria Sharapova and Justine Henin-Hardenne battle it out for the title, this could really turn into a classic.

I was going to side heavily with the Russian, feel it his her time to add a second Grand Slam title . Nothing has made me change my mind, it's just that the price is not quite as high as I had hoped, so stakes are reduced accordingly.

If you read my post for last night's semi final, I explained that Sharapova is displaying an inner calmness and strongly feel that she believes, that she will win, which is not quite as obvious, or as simple, as it sounds.

Of course it will not be easy, HH is a great champion and will fight to the very death. However, she is clearly not 100%, served 12 double faults against Jankovic and admits to being in pain. I have taken three quotes from her post match interview and she hardly exudes confidence ......

Q. How is your back feeling going into tomorrow? JUSTINE HENIN HARDENNE: Well, I have no choice. It has to get better till tomorrow. So we'll see. I'm sure it's gonna be fine.

Q. Did you have any injuries in your back? JUSTINE HENIN HARDENNE: Yeah, it's been pretty painful last few days. Couldn't serve a lot during my practice. Something pretty painful. So, yeah, I just have to keep fighting. It's not easy to play with the pain. But then I was a bit tired also at the end of the second set. Then couldn't think any more about this injury and just play and let's try what you have to do. It worked pretty well.

Q. Were those double faults mental or physical? JUSTINE HENIN HARDENNE: Probably a little bit of both. But, no, I wouldn't find any excuse for that. I think I was very nervous beginning of the match. I wasn't in a good rhythm. In the third set I served much better, not as many double faults as I did in the first two sets.

Strange that she was "nervous" playing Jankovic, expect nerves to come into play tonight, but Sharapova is a confident choice. Obviously, if you can bet with a bookmaker who pay out if one set is completed, as opposed to "the full number of sets", that would be preferable given HH's injury concerns.

3 points Sharapova 2.0 general quote, 2.04 available in places.

Good Luck.