Justine Henin vs Serena Williams QF '07 10/10

[demeanor79]

not tall and without muscle but u can handle all the girls. What is ur weapon Justine? how can u be over the "law of the nature"? That's the question.

[shetachai]

I really adore Henin for her great effort, she doesn't hav the nature gift of athletes body like serena or venus but only her will of becoming the one prove to anyone n the world that you don't need to be six feet tall or have a body with every inches of muscle you can still be a champion, i salute you, Justine for your most minded-perfection on game over the law of nature.

[Burpingbelcher]

The Williams are the best at the power baseline tennis they play. That means that the players who beat them do so by making Venus and Serena play badly, by changing the pace and disrupting the rhythm. It's what Nadal does to Federer, and Murray does to both. But you don't hear the top men come into their press conference and say "I played 10% of my best today". It just makes them sound immature. Justine challenged them by making them play a different style.

[pearpeas]

serena looked ackward here---its like the ball was too big. she wasn't fluid as she usually is...

[kumarravichandran]

It may be true that they rarely play their 'best' and lose, but any player plays at his/her highest level very seldom, so that is a meaningless statement. Justine rarely played a really bad match, everyone expected her to put in a fight each time. Although I admire the Williamses, they seem to bring their A or even B game along very rarely. You have to learn to win even when things are not working out.

[Carl23CP]

Wow! What an incredible match!

[delayedricochet]

Justine is incredible!

[mjr1z]

The choke against Jankovic was funny to watch but if any of you play tennis like me Jankovic has a such a solid and consistent game that it plays havoc with head when you are trying to close out a match. However what was more funny was Henin losing to Bartoli at Wimbledon, probably the only Wimbledon Justine could have won and she choked. Seeded 1, and yet she imploded. At least Serena stuck it out to beat Jankovic. Henin is hilarious when she chokes like in 06 when she lost 3/4 GS finals...

[kumarravichandran]

I DO play tennis, and I know what you mean. The Wimbledon match was one of ONLY 4 losses all year, and came after a significant defeat of Serena. Not an excuse, but it happens. And she had a much better chance in 2006, when she blew a good lead against Mauresmo. And FYI, Justine ended 2006 as no.1, with a Slam to her name. NO mean feat.

[mjr1z]

Yes she ended 06 as #1 but what was her competition? I totally agree that Justine can only be beaten (at this stage in her career) by a select few, and that select few were not to be found in 06. Serena was out with injury, Venus was playing pretty awful tennis and Sharapova was injured. Yes #1 was no mean feat but come on, 2006 was her year, she was the best and yet she only had 1 GS, her predictable French Open Crown. So FYI Justine might have been number 1 but should have won a GRANDSLAM...

[kumarravichandran]

Excuse me??? So the French has become a cakewalk now, because no one else has won it much? What a joke. That awful bit of insight aside, she had a much better 2007, when both Williams won a Slam, and both Serbs were at their best. If it was so easy to dominate then, why didn't Venus/Serena/Maria do so?

[mjr1z]

I said she should have won a GRANDSLAM in 06 not 07. As for the French Open being a cakewalk, for Justine it should be because clay is her best serface. Even at 50% she could still win the tournament because she is that good. You are right, Henin did have a better 07 and on her tennis she should have won the three slams she participated in...NO EXCUSES. Serena had some issues with injuries, Venus struggled to play at the top of her game and in my opinion i do not think Maria will ever dominate.

[cooldominicano]

the only think that matter, is the people who know about tennis, knows that justine is the best of her generation, dont speak stupid thing, saying that the williams are better, their are more strong, but never better

[mjr1z]

Do you think Henin will retire any time soon? Plus what is happening to Henin? She seems to have peaked last year and her level of tennis has significantly dropped, and with recent talks of leisurely travel her mind might not b as focussed on tennis as it once was.

[kumarravichandran]

She is lacking motivation, as is clear from her interviews. Add the knee injury to that, and some poor losses, and she is very low. She will do well to take time off, get her ranking down, and then compete for the top spot again. This season will be VERY rough on her, sadly. But she'll be back, hopefully, and soon.

[mjr1z]

I hope so to. I might be a Serena Williams fanatic, but i respect Henin as one of the all time greats. Hopefully she will find the drive that got her to where she is today because i for one do not want the Serena/Henin rivalry cut short as i think it has the potential to be a rivalry like Graf/Navratilova. You are probably right in that she needs time away from the tour, as i suspect she is fatigued both physically and mentally. Hopefully she'll regain some inspiration from the clay of the FO!

[susceotible]

I totally agree with mjr1z. eventhough I'm a huge fan of serena williams I do respect justin a lot. I also believes that if justin didnt retire so soon serena/justin rivalry will be a classic rivalry just like evert/navratillova. btw do you guys think that if serena plays against justin like when she played at the u.s open she can win against her. coz she was phenomenal in that tournament. and one more thing. if justin won against bartoli. do you guys think she can beat venus on this surface.

[JayMareo]

we will never kno, but even tho im much more of a williams fan i would have loved to see justine stay and give them challenges. sigh lol

[mjr1z]

I agree. Serena was physically struggling out there which had a heavy influence on her focus and rhythm. The last couple of points saw Serena lose all confidence in her backhand, and of course her forehand was very wobbly. All credit to Justine for not choking as she so often does, but her victory was hollow when on considers the impact Serena's thumb and calf injury had on her game. Th US open saw her lose bcuase of self doubt, but last week she regaind her drive and outplayed Henin as expected

[kumarravichandran]

By the same token, Justine's losses to Serena in Miami last year and this year were because of self-doubt. Talking of choking, that hilarious choke against Jankovic at Miami will go down in the record books.

[mjr1z]

I think last year Henin lost to Serena becuase Serena rose her level in the second and third sets which Henin did not expect (and who would after a 6-0 set), and thus she doubted herself on that basis. However this year Henin was simply outplayed. There was no reason for self doubt after beating Serena in 3 consecutive grand slam quarter finals. Serena played at a fantastic level and used heavy top spin, a similar play to when she was world #1, which made it difficult for Henin to play her game!

[kumarravichandran]

So you mean Justine brought her best game and was humiliated? Bull. She should have won Miami last year, but deserved to lose this year, given her level of play. Serena played great.

[cooldominicano]

like serena u never going to say that serena loose cuz justine was better, u the serena fan, like her, awalys has a excuse, when justine loose to henin before be no.1 justine didn't has the confident, in 2007 she knew that she was more better than the williams, she loose to serena in miami2007 cuz she injure in the math, and 2008 justine was obvious no focuse, cuz two math more she retire, so is imposible that a player plays good when she is soon toreire like her

[crazygamz]

Although henin won the match i will not say it was fairly because serena was clearly struggling out there. It was also very mature of her to stay out there and fight whilst struggling with her backhand, somehow producing as stated a high quality QF. Henin however should not have been taken to 3 sets by a injured serena but then a fit serena dismissed her 6-2 6-0 what can i say.

[kumarravichandran]

Serena has her bad days as well (RG quarters 2007) just as Justine has against Serena at Miami 2008. It happens, hope both can compete well the rest of the season. And SErena was as fit as can be at the US open.

[rew34]

y don't u post the match where justine lost to serena

[tellmeJO]

IMO the problem is that Serena seems to be fit almost never...Yes we all know that Serena is probably the best when she is fit but she almost always has an "injury"...it would be good for the game if she was fit...which she seems to be right now, but for how long? I also have to say that grass is clearly not Henin's favorite surface...but I don't like Henin either so...

[GingerMouseHouse]

Stop Hating Justine, QuadThreat. Justine won the match, Serena may have been injured, but she did not retire and consede deafeat from injury. Therefore, logically, Justine won the match fairly.

[Oopstoobad6275]

can u post her match w/ bartoli plz...i never saw it

[Xenosagarc]

QuadThreat, all I can say is that you don't have a life but to disturb and annoy others, shut the HELL UP!!!

Obviously you know very little about tennis, I happen to be a coach here at a tennis club in Monaco, and playing to an opponent's weakness which was done here by Justine is the best way to win a tennis match. Everything is square in this match and it is a great one. If you hate someone just keep it to yourself, I can see all other fo your stupid comments on other videos. PLEASE STOP!!!

[kumarravichandran]

Cool down, dude! Lets keep the discussion amicable! :) We all agree Justine deserved this victory as much as any of her others.

[Xenosagarc]

Sorry, I am just sick of seeing negative I-know-it-all comments. Let's just enjoy the videos, shall we???

Thank God for youtube. :)

[kumarravichandran]

I agree whole-heartedly. So many of these great matches are being spoiled with hate messages, pedantic opinions and outdated gossip. And since some people are so much more active than others on Youtube, things get very biased. But let us step back and appreciate the superb match these 2 champions put on for us.

[rogueandblink]

quadthreat give it up. justine won this match, end of story.

[QuadThreat]

also....you give Justine's opponents very little credit...do you HONESTLY think it was Justine's all-court skills alone that won her this match?...Justine was very smart in this match....she saw Serena was half herself out there, and she simply played to the weaker half...there's nothing you can say to cover that up.....grr this match pisses me off, but at the same time credit to Serena for even trying to play.

[kumarravichandran]

You'd have to be a dumb player to continue to play like usual against an injured opponent. Tactical play is so easily dismissed; playing to an opponent's weaknesses is the best strategy in tennis. Serena played a good match despite everything, but I am glad her poor slice was exposed. And more importantly, Justine gained confidence about beating Serena on a surface other than clay.

[QuadThreat]

good for her...but don't sit here and say one thing when it's not the case...you just admitted that what I've been saying the whole time is true, which is why you shut it down saying she won case closed...people are going to break down the matches...ESPECIALLY when the best are going up against the best...people want to analyze what ACTUALLY happened out there, not just say player a won and player b didn't...that's boring...and it's kind of sad that it takes a crippled Serena for her to avenge.

[kumarravichandran]

Which is why she thrashed Serena at the US open and RG, or wait... Serena was injured right, or was violated or something? And Justine was just oh so lucky :P . Justine played superbly in all 3 matches, and deserved to win. I am not saying Justine will own Serena henceforth, just that she was way better in those 3 matches in 2007. I guess when Serena wins a match crippled, she is a hero, but when she loses one, her conqueror is plain lucky. Right?

[QuadThreat]

LOL I see once again all the commenting has been disabled....everyone was probably warring it out about this one, since this was the most upsetting Serena loss of last year...Justine has nothing against her on this surface, and the stars were basically in line for her once Serena got injured in the match against Hantuchova...I'm surprised Serena even won a set.

[kumarravichandran]

Whatever... Justine won the match. Case closed.

[corypatrick]

dont worry, kumarravichandran, we are not blind like quadthreat

[rosinhaunb]

Do the players have to wait each other to go back to the loackroom at the same time?(in Wimbledom)

[kumarravichandran]

I think it is just a tradition, not a rule. Strange how tennis players are suckers for a bit of the old-school rituals.

[bobomber]

What an odd match. Serena was obviously unable to hit backhands as she normally would...and yet many times during the match you will see Henin hit a ball straight down the middle of the court, and Serena will try some awkward backhand maneuver instead of running around to hit a forehand. I'm not sure if it's a matter of fitness or what...but her legs didn't look to be bothering her much during the match. She was moving well. Did anyone else find that strange?

[QuadThreat]

she's still a hair off in movement...and yes without that backhand of hers there was no way she was coming away with this match.

[doni1212]

I thought it was just habit because she does that a lot in other matches.