World Tennis Magazine

Unique Tennis Perspectives

sydney international

CAN HENIN TOP CLIJSTERS COMEBACK?

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Can Justine Henin out do Kim Clijsters?

The diminutive Belgian overcame a huge hurdle in her comeback bid, beating No. 5 seed and recently crowned Sydney International champion Elena Dementieva 7-5, 7-6 (6) in the Australian Open second round.

The win firmly establishes her as among the favorites to actually win the tournament.

If Henin is able to win the Australian Open, she will do so in only her second tournament since coming out of an 18-month retirement, one tournament less than her countrywomen and top rival Clijsters did when she won the U.S. Open last September. Clijsters returned to tennis after a 27-month retirement in July of 2009 after giving birth to a daughter, Jada, on February 27, 2008.

Henin next faces No. 27 seed Alisa Kleybanova of Russia in the third round, then a potential match with another Beligian upstart, 2009 U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer. Clijsters or No. 3 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova could be a potential quarterfinal opponent, while No. 2 seed Dinara Safina, No. 8 Jelena Jankovic, No. 11 seed Marian Bartoli or Maria Sharapova’s conqueror Maria Kirilenko could be a final-round opponent.

Henin, a seven-time Grand Slam tournament champion, won her match with Dementieva in 2 hours, 50 minutes. She won the Australian Open in 2004 and made this year’s tournament as a wildcard.

“At the end the nerves got to me,” said Henin after the win over Dementieva. “It was really difficult to close the match out. I couldn’t believe I could live the emotions like that.”

NO TANTRUMS FOR SERENA IN AUSSIE OPEN FIRST ROUND

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Serena Williams was on her best behavior Tuesday in her first match in a Grand Slam tournament since her famous outburst at the 2009 US Open, beating up on Urszula Radwanska of Poland 6-2, 6-1 in the first round of the Australian Open.

Williams played the match on Rod Laver Arena with a heavily-taped upper right thigh and was visibly limping at the start of the match.

After losing to Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the Sydney International last week, Williams complained of a painful left knee, but vowed she would defend her title in Melbourne this year.

Late last year, Williams was fined $82,500 for her tirade at the U.S. Open, where she threatened to a line judge who had called a second-serve foot-fault that gave her opponent, Kim Clijsters, a match point in their semifinal. Williams’ “colorful” language and threats earned her a point penalty, which gave Clijsters the match.

In addition to her fine, the Grand Slam committee also placed Williams on probation for her behavior at major events in 2010 and 2011. If he has another “”major offense” at a Grand Slam tournament during the two-year stretch, he fine would increase to $175,000 and she would be barred from competing in the following U.S. Open.

Serena, the world No. 1, and Australian Open champion in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009, will next face Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the next round. The last time Kvitova played a No. 1 seed at a major tournament, she won, defeating top seed Dinara Safina in the third round of the 2009 U.S. Open.