Williams was reluctant to give the Belgian any credit despite being mauled in a one-sided, 36-minute second set.

• Images from day 8 | US Open 2007

"I just think she made a lot of lucky shots, and I made a lot of errors," said Williams, who was eliminated in a grand slam quarter-final for the third time this year by Henin, who also ousted the American at the French Open [ Images ] and Wimbledon [ Images ].

Asked if she felt she had lost the match rather than Henin winning it, the two-times Open champion said: "I think that's usually the case with me, that it's for me to win or lose.

"I really don't feel like talking about it, to be honest. I don't want to get fined," the eighth seed said, referring to penalties imposed for missing post-match news conferences.

"That's the only reason I came. I can't afford to pay the fines because I keep losing."

Williams had a set point at 6-5 in the first set, but Henin claimed the set on a tiebreak, 7-3, and then ripped through the second to set up a clash with either third seed Jelena Jankovic [ Images ] of Serbia or American 12th seed Venus Williams [ Images ].

POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Williams, the 2002 and 1999 champion, came into the U.S. Open having not played since Wimbledon because of a thumb injury, but she said conditioning and her lack of tournament play was not a factor.

"I'm very fit. I can run for hours," she said.

Williams said she had a positive attitude going into the match. "I was really excited to go into it. I was ready. I was really ready to play," she said.

The win was Henin's first against Williams on a hard court.

"I can't explain that right now. I just don't know, so I can't help you there," Williams said.

Williams said she would have to watch the match to understand why she had failed against French Open champion Henin, who leveled their career head-to-head series 6-6.

"I got to go back and study and figure out how to beat her. That's it. Bottom line."