Comeback queen Henin looks to future
Source: Agencies |
January 31, 2010, Sunday
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JUSTINE Henin's loss to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final yesterday was a bittersweet ending to a fairy-tale run for the Belgian and left her hungry for success in her second career.
"Of course (I'm) disappointed, I mean, when you lose in the final of a grand slam, especially in three sets, and I got a few opportunities that I wasn't able to take," an upbeat Henin said after her fighting 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 loss at Rod Laver Arena, her 12th grand slam final.
"But this feeling of disappointment cannot take advantage on all the things I've done in the last few weeks. And it's just more than what I could expect, I just have to remember that.
"I'm sure there will be a lot of positive things I can think about in a few days. It's been almost perfect; just the last step, I couldn't make it."
The seven-time grand slam winner arrived in Melbourne an unknown quantity, a wildcard still finding her feet in her second tournament back after an 18-month retirement.
Though she was rated a dangerous floater in the draw, few would have backed the 27-year-old to mow her way through six opponents and have a chance of winning a grand slam in the 12th competitive match of her comeback -- Henin, least of all. "I didn't know really what to expect. I was ready to live, like I said, the best and the worst," the Belgian said.
"I was curious about what my level would be and how I was going to deal with just the atmosphere on and off the court, how it would feel. I felt I took the right decision, so it's good enough for me already."
The Belgian quit the game in May 2008, disillusioned with the grind of touring and lacking the hunger to strive for grand slam trophies.
She announced her comeback last year, inspired after seeing fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters win the US Open title in her third tournament back after taking two years out to become a mother.
She arrived in Melbourne with a final appearance at the warm-up Brisbane International, but brought questions over her fitness, and, she admitted, worries about her mental fortitude.
In the Brisbane final, Henin had held two match points over Clijsters. Her failure to land the killer blows haunted her in her opening rounds at Melbourne Park, and she said she thought she had lost the ice-cool composure that had carried her through the big points to seven grand slams.
However, her gruelling second-round win over fifth seed Elena Dementieva brought the belief flooding back.
As seeds tumbled and the draw opened up, Henin steadily advanced through the draw, her graceful backhand and tenacious net-rushing delighting crowds jaded with dour baseline battles being waged elsewhere. Henin, despite herself, began to dream and for a few heady moments at Rod Laver Arena it appeared the dream might come true.
"Of course (I'm) disappointed, I mean, when you lose in the final of a grand slam, especially in three sets, and I got a few opportunities that I wasn't able to take," an upbeat Henin said after her fighting 4-6, 6-3, 2-6 loss at Rod Laver Arena, her 12th grand slam final.
"But this feeling of disappointment cannot take advantage on all the things I've done in the last few weeks. And it's just more than what I could expect, I just have to remember that.
"I'm sure there will be a lot of positive things I can think about in a few days. It's been almost perfect; just the last step, I couldn't make it."
The seven-time grand slam winner arrived in Melbourne an unknown quantity, a wildcard still finding her feet in her second tournament back after an 18-month retirement.
Though she was rated a dangerous floater in the draw, few would have backed the 27-year-old to mow her way through six opponents and have a chance of winning a grand slam in the 12th competitive match of her comeback -- Henin, least of all. "I didn't know really what to expect. I was ready to live, like I said, the best and the worst," the Belgian said.
"I was curious about what my level would be and how I was going to deal with just the atmosphere on and off the court, how it would feel. I felt I took the right decision, so it's good enough for me already."
The Belgian quit the game in May 2008, disillusioned with the grind of touring and lacking the hunger to strive for grand slam trophies.
She announced her comeback last year, inspired after seeing fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters win the US Open title in her third tournament back after taking two years out to become a mother.
She arrived in Melbourne with a final appearance at the warm-up Brisbane International, but brought questions over her fitness, and, she admitted, worries about her mental fortitude.
In the Brisbane final, Henin had held two match points over Clijsters. Her failure to land the killer blows haunted her in her opening rounds at Melbourne Park, and she said she thought she had lost the ice-cool composure that had carried her through the big points to seven grand slams.
However, her gruelling second-round win over fifth seed Elena Dementieva brought the belief flooding back.
As seeds tumbled and the draw opened up, Henin steadily advanced through the draw, her graceful backhand and tenacious net-rushing delighting crowds jaded with dour baseline battles being waged elsewhere. Henin, despite herself, began to dream and for a few heady moments at Rod Laver Arena it appeared the dream might come true.
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