 |
| |
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
EVENTS
CENTERS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|
 |
Venus wants another title But defending champ is wary of challenge from Henin
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Venus Williams might be favored to win Saturday's Wimbledon final, thanks to her prowess on grass and her past success in Grand Slam tournaments. Still, she isn't taking anything for granted against unheralded Justine Henin -- who won their only previous meeting. "My mom told me never to underestimate anyone. So I take that good advice," Williams said. "The last time we played I was just really moving kind of slow. I don't think I was playing as well as I could have." The 21-year-old American, seeded second, is looking for her third title in the past five Grand Slam events, having won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2000. She's a 2-5 favorite with British bookmakers. "I don't like going home without carrying a plate or a trophy or a title or something," Williams said. "So I think that's motivation enough for me. I like winning here. Once you win it's pretty addictive. "But, for me, it's not like making history. It's all about winning Wimbledon 2001." The eighth-seeded Henin, a 19-year-old Belgian, is the first player from her country to reach a major final. She reached the semifinals last month at the French Open, which is played on clay. Her game tends to excel on that slower surface -- her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Williams in Berlin in May was on clay -- but she's quickly proven she's an all-court player. "I'm not afraid to serve-and-volley, to slice a little bit more, to be aggressive and go to the net," said Henin, who has won all three previous finals she's played in this year. While Williams will have her enigmatic father, Richard, in the crowd at Centre Court on Saturday, neither of Henin's parents will be there. Her mother died from cancer when Henin was 12. She split with her father -- who was also her coach -- after a family dispute she declines to discuss. When Henin stunned reigning Australian and French Open champion Jennifer Capriati in the semifinals Thursday, she threw her racket into the air as a symbolic salute to her mother. "My mother believed in me, always knew I would succeed," Henin said. "She knew my determination to get to the top and I know she is fully aware of what I'm doing now." Henin -- who trailed 6-2, 2-1 against Capriati before fighting back -- makes up for her lack of height with powerful hitting from the back court even from difficult angles. In one service game against Capriati, Henin hit three crosscourt winners in a row from the backhand side. After beating Capriati 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, Henin said she wouldn't be daunted taking on a player who was much taller or physically stronger, even on a fast surface like grass. "I'm not afraid of the size," said Henin, who at 5-foot-6 is 7 inches shorter than Williams. "If I play against a strong player I just want to go. I have already played against Davenport, Williams and Capriati. I don't mind about these kind of players because I can move well on the court and I'm so fast. I can also be a strong player when I want."
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
