That's two in a row

Henin-Hardenne enjoys role as official Serena-killer

Belgium already celebrating BRUSSELS, June 5 (Reuters) -- Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters have yet to contest the French Open final. But two days before one of them is crowned champion, Belgium was already hailing its first Grand Slam winner. The nation was guaranteed the women's title after Henin-Hardenne clawed her way past defending champion Serena Williams 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in a dramatic semifinal on Thursday to set up an all-Belgian final with Clijsters. FULL STORY

PARIS (AP) -- She's John McEnroe's favorite player. She has the most beautiful backhand in Belgium -- or anywhere else. And now she's Serena Williams' No. 1 nemesis.

Justine Henin-Hardenne ended Williams' one-year domination of major events by beating her 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 Thursday in the semifinals of the French Open.

It was the first loss for Williams in her past 34 Grand Slam matches, but her second straight loss to Henin-Hardenne. Williams was 21-0 this year before the Belgian beat her at Charleston, S.C., in April.

Williams will remain No. 1 next week, but there's been a slight shift in the balance of power.

"I hope things are going to change," Henin-Hardenne said. "She remains a great champion, very difficult to beat. So it's early to say anything. But the gap is becoming smaller."

One indication: On Saturday, Roland Garros will host the first Grand Slam final since the 2002 Australian Open featuring someone other than the Williams sisters.

Instead, it will be the first all-Belgian Grand Slam final, with the No. 4-seeded Henin-Hardenne facing No. 2 Kim Clijsters.

"Belgian people have to be going crazy," Henin-Hardenne said.

"A real Belgian slam," Clijsters said.

Henin-Hardenne will be hard-pressed to surpass her inspired performance in the semifinals.

Williams may be the biggest, strongest, fastest, best-hitting player on the women's tour, as Andre Agassi said Tuesday. But Henin-Hardenne was more relaxed, moved better and showed more patience and consistency with her shots.

She whipped that one-handed backhand for winners -- and did the same with her forehand. She wavered serving at 5-4 in the final set, double-faulting twice and losing the game at love, then steadied and won the final two games.

Fans on center court rooted for Henin-Hardenne as if she were French, while also crossing the lines of tennis etiquette by cheering Williams' mistakes.

Henin-Hardenne was diplomatic when asked about the fan behavior.

"The crowd gave me all the support I need to win," she said. "I say thank you to them, but it's true that sometimes it was a little bit too much."

Loyalties will be more evenly divided Saturday, when Henin-Hardenne plays in her second Grand Slam final. Venus Williams beat her to win the 2001 Wimbledon title.

Henin-Hardenne was then 19 and beginning just her third year on the women's tour. Last week she turned 21 -- old enough to have her biography published (with a foreword by McEnroe), and old enough to know that a semifinal victory over Williams doesn't justify a big celebration.

"The tournament is not finished," she said. "There's still a match to be played on Saturday."

Henin-Hardenne was just 12 when her mother died of cancer, and in a profession where arrested development can be a problem, she has always stressed the importance of keeping perspective.

"It's fantastic to beat Serena in the French Open," she said. "But there are many other important things in life. At times you're living good or bad times. That may be more important. The day when I got married was the nicest day of my life. I cannot compare that to a victory like today's."

 

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