Wimbledon - Serena misses old foe Henin

Eurosport - Thu, 19 Jun 23:03:00 2008

Former world number one Serena Williams said she was sad that her old adversary Justine Henin will be missing from Wimbledon this year.

TENNIS Serena Williams Justine Henin - 0

The American was knocked out by Henin at the quarter-final stage last year having beaten the Belgian on her way to winning the title in 2003.

Their 13 career meetings were often prickly affairs, especially a bad-tempered French Open semi-final won by Henin in 2003. Williams also turned out to be a sore loser when she was beaten by Henin in the US Open quarter-finals last year.

But following Henin's sudden retirement from the sport last month, Williams said she would miss their rivalry.

"It's sad that she's not going to be at Wimbledon this year," Williams said.

"She was great competition and the tournament will miss her. But then again it opens up the draw a bit for someone else to do a little better."

Williams won consecutive titles in Bangalore, Miami and Charleston earlier this year but struggled during the European claycourt season, losing in the third round at Roland Garros to Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik.

Her early exit in Paris at least allowed her some time off and to prepare thoroughly for Wimbledon.

"It was nice to have a bit of time off and I've had a lot of time on the grass," Williams, who had back trouble in Rome this year, said. "I'm feeling great and very positive.

"It's been a while since I won here but I still think, along with my sister [Venus], I'm the one to beat on grass. Hopefully I can hang in with her."

Williams is seeded sixth at Wimbledon, one place higher than Venus who will be defending her title.

Reuters

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  1. WHAT SAD AND SORRY CHILDHOOOD DID SHARON COME FROM IN ODER TO COME WITH "DROP DEAD" ABOUT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, ASK YOUR PERENTS TO TELL YOU WHY THEY FAIED YOU

    From coiln b, on Sat 21 Jun 5:38PM

  2. What a load of disingenuous @#$%!!

    From Big Kahuna !, on Sat 21 Jun 12:26PM

  3. What a load of disingenuous @#$%!!

    From Big Kahuna !, on Sat 21 Jun 12:25PM

  4. LMAOWRAOTF!

    From Big Kahuna !, on Sat 21 Jun 11:21AM

  5. Justine,iam going to miss the beautiful strokes.the williams,come out more focous and concentrate,sky is the limit go out there and do your things

    from ifeoluwa ogunsola

    From ogunsola adebisi, on Fri 20 Jun 6:38PM

  6. drop dead williams sisters

    From Sharon R, on Fri 20 Jun 5:09PM

  7. why we attack freindly & positive talking from a player about another!!!!!?????

    From hmb222000, on Fri 20 Jun 4:24PM

  8. Oh my, this is Serena again heaping praise on her most despised foe!
    Give me a break, there has always been resentment and sometimes even hatred between those two and now she's just telling us how sad it is to no longer have Justine competing out there at the very top of the game.
    I never thought Serena was a particular gifted player, let alone a true champion; she was just outmuscling her opponents but coming up against a real talented, technically outstanding rival like Justine, all of a sudden she looked totally lost and ludicrously out of sorts, not able to step up a gear and sticking to her one-dimensional and truly ineffective powerhitting gameplan.
    As regards Justine´s hammering in Miami this year, don't read anything into it, sadly the pride of our nation was already elsewhere with her thoughts and it just seemed it no longer mattered to her.
    The truth is we've lost one of the most gifted players of all time, rightly called the Federer of the women´s game and we're not likely to see emerge another one before a long long time.
    Let this be a lesson of humility to us all, with pure class and exquisite technique coupled with an iron will and completed by a tactical nous second to none (especially in the women´s game), anyone can be beaten no matter if they are stronger and taller.
    Pity you retired Justine, you'll be sorely missed in women's tennis which all of a sudden has again become quite boring and ver one-dimensional.
    Saludos de México!

    From s_masureel, on Fri 20 Jun 3:12PM

  9. what a hypocrit you are Serena, you couldn't stand the sights of Justine, now you are telling us that you will miss her, woman just play your games at Wimbeldon and pick someone else to critise now that Henin stopped playing.....

    From rdehenau, on Fri 20 Jun 2:42PM

  10. The williams sisters are amazing!
    Come on Venus! Win it again!

    From kerrykezleigh, on Fri 20 Jun 10:56AM
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