TennisToday

Justine Henin Retires from Women's Tennis, Again

What a day for tennis... Rafa's out of the AO owing to injury and Justine retires from women's tennis (again) because she just couldn't recover fully from an elbow injury sustained at Wimbledon last year. Sad day indeed.

Justine's message, via her Facebook page:

I address my letter to you because this is currently the best way to express meself, I now experience very difficult times. I have unfortunately not good news. I spent the last days undergoing  various  medical tests and they have confirmed that my elbow has been damaged by my adventure in Australia.

After my crash at Wimbledon in June, I knew it would be difficult to come back. But I had decided to keep playing and to give everything to overcome the injury. In these recent months I have rarely been spared from the pain, those last months were very hard. Time has passed, and the doubts have grown, and only return to the courts would give me answers. Not the answer I was hoping for... unfortunately. I suffered a lot the last week and every day gave me more and more pain, but I believed that my will would take the upper hand. Today, the examinations are clearly and and the doctors formally, my elbow is too fragile and hurt so that my passion and my profession at high level cannot continue to exist.

Caroline Wozniacki, Justine Henin & Svetlana Kuznetsova All Advance at Australian Open

Australian Open - Women's Second Round

1 Caroline Wozniacki d Vania King - 61 60

11 Justine Henin d Elena Baltacha - 61 63

Svetlana Kuznetsova d Arantxa Rus - 61 64

This quarter of the draw is rich with star-power...

It also includes Bartoli & Schiavone - who have yet to play today.

Caro, Justine & Sveta all offered near total crushing beatdowns today.

Justine & Sveta will play each other in the next round - H2H: 16-2/JH.

Caro could face Cibulkova next - who beat Caro last week in Sydney.

This quarter, as they say, is hotting up. Unlike the weather.

Photos: Getty Images

Justine Henin Dancing and a' Singing on Belgium TV!

This is just priceless. When have you ever seen Justine smile so much?

Thanks to James LaRosa for the heads-up.

Women's Tennis Season-Ending Players Set for Doha '10

Here are your 8 combatants for the season-ending championships in Doha.

1. Caroline Wozniacki 2. Serena Williams 3. Vera Zvonareva

4. Kim Clijsters 5. Samantha Stosur

6. Francesca Schiavone 7. Jelena Jankovic 8. Elena Dementieva

Venus & Justine would've qualified but have ended her years owing to injury.

The tournament begins on Oct. 25 and will be aired live on Tennis Channel.

Hopefully without that annoying ticker...

Justine Henin's Elbow is Getting Better...

Justine took to her Twitter page to give her fans an update:

I've been practicing for a few weeks. I feel good on the court.

My elbow doesn't hurt anymore. It's positive but let's go step by step...

Thank you for all your support! ;-)

***

She had previously stated she wouldn't play again until 2011.

But there are whispers she may play in Linz & an exo in December.

Photo: AP

Justine Henin is back to practicing again...

Jutine took to her Twitter page to send her fans a very possitive message:

I've started hitting the ball again. Slowly but what a great feeling!

Keep those fingers crossed! ;-)

That's great news. See you in Australia.

Photo: Getty Images

 

Justine Henin - Out for the Rest of 2010 Season

Justine suffered an elbow injury during her match againt fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon. I guess you could say Kim gave her the TKO.

This, from Justine's website:

By this time, I'm doing everything required by my medical team to get a good recovery from the injury I had at the Wimbledon tournament.

I took several medical examinations the last days. It's going in the right direction. It's encouraging news.

It still a slow recovery so I need to patient again until the end of 2010.

For my preparation for the competition in 2011, I cannot take any risks, so I hope to go back to practice in October. I'll work hard to get ready for this new season.

I really thank you for your support and I'll keep you informed of the further evaluation of my injury.

Photo: AP

Kim Clijsters Beats Justine Henin to Reach Wimbledon Quarterfinals

 8 Kim Clijsters d 17 Justine Henin - 26 62 63

Kim now leads the Belgian rivalry 13-12 & has won all 3 matches this year.

Justine took a nasty spill in the 1st set & was treated 3 times for it.

Henin's stats are a bit better - influenced by the 1st set when Kim sucked.

This is Kim's 4th time to the W quarterfinals: 2-1 & her 16th Slam Qf: 13-2.

She will next play Vera Zvonareva: 5-0/KC.

After the match Kim spoke with the BBC & discussed the outcome:

"I just had to really stay in the rallies - that's how I turned it around."

Photo: Getty Images

Kim Clijsters Wins 3rd Round Match at Wimbledon

8 Kim Clijsters d 27 Maria Kirilenko - 63 63

In 3 matches thus far Kim has lost 14 games - no set score has gone past 63.

This was the shortest of the three clocking in at only 1:02.

Today she served at 81% and converted 4 of 5 break points.

She'll have a blockbuster Center Court match on Monday with Justine Henin.

The Belgians are 12-12 with Kim winning the 2 in their returns to the game.

Photo: Reuters

Justine Henin Wins 3rd Round Match at Wimbledon

17 Justine Henin d 12 Nadia Petrova - 61 64

On the look of it this appears to be an upset. It's not. At all.

Just further evidence that the seeding committee was all jacked up.

I agree with Brad Gilbert: move players in both or don't move them at all.

Right - I haven't yet let that go. Oh yes, the match...

Two stats are glaring - she won 87% of points on her first serve and...

Justine won 12 of 14 points when she ventured to the net.

The win moves her to a 4th round date with Kim Clijsters: H2H: 12-12.

Monday is going to be good.

Photo: Getty Images

Justine Henin Wins 2nd Round Match at Wimbledon

17 Justine Henin d Kristina Barrois - 63 75

Justine was up in the second set and let that get a little too close.

Justine returned to tennis to win her missing Slam - this one.

Inexplicably the seeding committee didn't bump her up and kept her at #17.

This resulted in a fairly tough draw to get thru to raise the Venus Rosewater.

She is on a collision course with fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters in the 4th round.

Photo: Getty Images

ATP Men's & WTA Women's Title Count for 2010

1 Man with FOUR titles: Rafael Nadal

6 men with TWO titles: Marin Cilic, Juan Carlos Ferrero,

Michael Llodra (above), Sam Querrey, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco

***

18 ONE title: Marcos Baghdatis, Thomaz Bellucci, Juan Ignacio Chela

Nikolay Davydenko, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, David Ferrer,

Richard Gasquet, Ernests Gulbis, Lleyton Hewitt, John Isner,

Ivan Ljubicic, Feliciano Lopez, Albert Montanes, Robin Soderling, 

Sergiy Stakhovsky, Stanislas Wawrinka, Mikhail Youzhny

The Women

6 ladies with TWO titles: Kim Clijsters, Elena Dementieva,

Justine Henin (above), Maria Sharapova, Francesca Schiavone, Venus Williams

***

17 ONE title: Iveta Benesova, Alona Bondarenko, Alexandra Dulgheru,

Jelena Jankovic, Alisa Kleybanova, Ekaterina Makarova,

Mariana Duque Marina, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Li Na,

Flavia Pennetta, Aravane Rezai, Anastajia Sevastova, Sam Stosur,

Yanina Wickmayer, Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva

Eastbourne & 's-Hertogenbosch: ATP & WTA Winners

Ok guys - time to focus on Wimbledon.

***

EASTBOURNE

ATP: 8 Michael Llodra d 5 Guillermo Garcia Lopez - 75 62

This is Llodra's 2nd title of 2010 - 5th career ATP title.

WTA: Q Ekaterina Makarova (above) d Victoria Azarenka - 76(5) 64

Makarova wins her 1st WTA title in her 3rd final round attempt.

***

's-HERTOGENBOSCH

ATP: Sergiy Stakhovsky d 7 Janko Tipsarevic - 63 60

This is Sergiy's 1st title of 2010 - 3rd of career.

WTA: 1/WC Justine Henin vs 7 Andrea Petkovic - 36 63 64

Justine's 2nd title of 2010 - 43rd on WTA tour.

Photo: Ekaterina Makarova - Getty Images

Oh yea... they have been playing tennis this week...

I kinda took this week off from following tennis much...

I'm still exhausted from the French and needed a breather before Wimby.

But the tennis calendar stops for nothing.

The finals are set for the men & women in Eastbourne & 's-Hertogenbosch.

***

EASTBOURNE

ATP: 5 Guillermo Garcia Lopez vs 8 Michael Llodra - H2H: 0-0

WTA: Victoria Azarenka vs Q Ekaterina Makarova - H2H: 0-0

***

's-HERTOGENBOSCH

ATP: 7 Janko Tipsarevic vs Sergit Stakhovsky - H2H: 0-1

WTA: 1/WC Justine Henin (above) vs 7 Andrea Petkovic: H2H: 0-0

Photo: Justine Henin - AP

Wimbledon Seeding Committee's GLARING Mistakes

A few days after Roger Federer lost his #1 ranking to Rafael Nadal last week I thought to myself that Wimbledon might still seed Roger #1 - knowing of their unique seeding system which takes into account previous grass court results for two years, weighting 2008 75% to 2009. I wondered if they'd have the nerve.

This morning when I saw that the seedings had been made I went to the men's list first to see what they had produced. Sure enough Roger Federer was bumped up above Rafa to the #1 seed. I was (mostly) fine with that, given the math they use - Roger is defending (and a 6 times champion) while Rafa missed last year owing to injury.

There were several other changes made - Roddick, Hewitt and Querrey received significant uppings while Isner (the very definition of a dark horse) was moved down. At some point this seeding system just doesn't make sense. How do you move Isner down? Do they actually know tennis?

I moved on to the women's list hoping to find a similar juggling of players. And NOTHING. They went strictly according to the rankings with the players ranked 6-33 moved up 1 spot because Elena Dementieva has pulled out with a calf strain.

WTF?

Maria Sharapova & Justine Henin are seeded #16 and #17. How is this even remotely possible? They both deserve to be ranked inside the top 10 - especially Justine, who according to the Race points on the year is the 6th ranked player of 2010. Wimbledon will have shot itself in the strawberries & cream if Serena and Justine draw each other in the 3rd round. That's not exciting - that's just annoying. Great going guys.

So then I started thinking... if they can't make a single change in the women's seedings then why shake up the men so dramatically?

I've read plenty of articles this morning suggesting that being seeded 1 or 2 makes no real difference as they can't meet each other until the final anyway but...

Couldn't an exception have been made in Rafa's case? The Spaniard went to 3 straight finals - winning here the last time he played in 2008. He worked his (famous) butt off to get back to #1 just to have Wimbledon (in an odd way) disrespect that... You won't hear him complain about it but rest assured it will be a very controversial move.

As for Roger, I think this may actually hurt him. In my view he would have been better off as the 2nd seed. As the 2nd seed it might well have taken some pressure off the man who has not had the best of seasons. Now the pressure is back squarely and in every  press conference he is going to be asked about this (as if his fault somehow) and it may just add that pressure he and his game could well do without.

Again, had the women been re-worked I wouldn't even have written this but (in my opinion) Wimbledon has been a some glaring mistakes. Can't we call this a fault and allow them a second serve to get it right? Hell, I'd even call it a let.

Sam Stosur takes out Justine Henin & gets Serena Williams next at Roland Garros

 

1 Serena Williams d Shahar Peer - 62 62 - 4th Round

Serena advances to her 7th RG Qf - she is 2-4 in Qf matches.

She and Venus are also in the doubles quarterfinal - they won in 1999.

Serena is the lone American man or woman in the quarterfinals.

***

7 Samantha Stosur d 22 Justine Henin - 26 61 64 - 4th Round

Stosur snapped Justine's 24 match win streak at RG.

She is into her 2nd quarterfinal here - she made the semis last year.

Who knew Sam's best surface was gonna turn out to be clay?

As for Justine - I suspect she will make quite an impression at Wimbledon.

***

1 Serena Williams vs 7 Samantha Stosur - H2H: 3-1

This will be a very interesting match. I see it as dead even.

Serena is trying to keep her calendar Grand Slam dream alive.

Photos: Reuters

Justine Henin & Maria Sharapova Set-up 3rd Round Clash at Roland Garros Tomorrow

22 Justine Henin (above) d Klara Zakopalova - 63 63

12 Maria Sharapova (below) d Kirsten Flipkens - 63 63

*****

12 Maria Sharapova vs 22 Justine Henin - H2H: 3-6

Maria won their last meeting in the quarters at Australia in '08.

In Slam play they are 2-2 including an Henin win at RG in '05.

They have never before met prior to the quarters in any tournament.

This the makings of a great match - the last on Chatrier tomorrow.

Well, if ESPN doesn't screw everything up like it did today.

Photo: Getty Images

ESPN's Experts Pick Rafael Nadal (Unanimously) & Justine Henin to Win French Open Titles

Even Mary Jo, whose husband is married to Federer's manager, picks Rafa.

Former #1's Justine Henin & Maria Sharapova Lose 1st Round Matches in Madrid

Aravane Rezai d Justine Henin - 46 75 60

Justine's comeback is starting to look like a sea-saw...

Semi's or better one week - first round loser the next.

Her next tournament is Roland Garros so pencil her into the semis.

Lucie Safarova d 11 Maria Sharapova - 64 63

Hard to believe she only turned 23 years old just a couple of weeks ago.

Also hard to believe that she doesn't have time to get back to the top.

We'll see.

Photos: Getty Images

Monday Rankings: Justine Henin & Rafael Nadal Rising as Roland Garros Looms

Justine Henin and Rafael Nadal both won their respective tour titles on the weekend - she in Stuttgart, he in Rome. Both players are in the midst of - she from a lengthy retirement, he from a nagging knee injury. Both players have one more tournament to play before Roland Garros begins - the combined event in Madrid. Both players are 4 time champions at Roland Garros - though neither is defending.

And both player's ranking is on the rise.

In just 5 tournaments this year Justine has managed to win one and finish as the finalist in another two, including the Australian Open. Her reward for her efforts is to find herself ranked #19 this morning. This is also great news for Elena Dementieva.

Rafael Nadal retired from his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray at the Australian Open and sat out a number of weeks to nurse a nagging knee injury. Upon his return he has been the man to rack up the most points on the tour in 2010. True, he is still at #3 this week but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that he'll be adding nothing but points at Wimbledon and Queens Club. And if he plays his cards right he could spoil Roger's 'Most Weeks at #1' party.

Justine and Rafa don't have time to improve much on their rankings for optimal seeding at Roland Garros - since she is sitting out Rome this week it'll be tough for her to get inside the top 16 and Novak Djokovic would have to really fold in Belgrade and Madrid for Rafa to replace him at #2.

But the folks at Roland Garros should do the right thing here... MOVE THEM UP REGARDLESS. The Slams have the authority to move players around and Rafa should be seeded #2 and Justine should be moved up to #8 - but I'd settle for #16.

Photo: Justine at the Stuttgart player's party.