Henin shot 28 winners, twice as many as Peer

Justine Henin progressed to the final of the Stuttgart Grand Prix with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Shahar Peer.

Peer caused the Belgian problems early in the first set when she hit back from a service break to level at 2-2.

However, Henin was never troubled thereafter as she eased past the world number 20 at the indoor clay event.

Four-time French Open champion next faces Australia's world number 10 Samantha Stosur, who beat Russian qualifier Anna Lapushchenkova 7-5 6-3.

Victory gave Henin - who returned to the WTA Tour in January following a 18-month hiatus from the sport - her third final in four months and extended her unbeaten run to 11 matches as she continues her build-up to the French Open.

"I made mistakes but I was good enough," said the former world number one and 2007 winner of this tournament.

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"I just have to keep going and to be aggressive. When I am aggressive my game is so much better.

"It's great to be playing good tennis here and to be in the final again. I hope it continues so," added the 27-year-old.

Peer, who turned 23 on Saturday, said: "I had so many chances, but Justine was very aggressive.

"I am happy and take the positive out of it. Because I lost doesn't mean that I don't have a good birthday."

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Henin, who is playing with a special sling to protect her broken little finger on her left, non-playing hand, should face a sterner test of her Roland Garros credentials in Sunday's final against Stosur.

The 26-year-old Australian reached the semi-final in Paris last year, losing out to eventual winner Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets.

And, in April, Stosur thrashed Russia's Vera Zvonareva 6-0 6-3 in the final Family Circle Cup final in South Africa to claim her first triumph on clay.

When I am aggressive my game is so much better Justine Henin

Despite Stosur's impressive form, though, qualifier Lapushchenkova, ranked 138th in the world, raced into a 5-2 lead.

However, the world number 10 regained her composure to claim the first set 7-5, and then enjoyed an altogether easier time of it in the second set, which she won 6-3.

"When I fell behind in the first set, I just tried to keep going and take every opportunity which came my way," said Stosur, who has never played Henin before.

"She [Henin] has been dominant on clay for the six years before she retired, so it's going to be quite a challenge."

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