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Henin’s return adds spice to women’s game

MELBOURNE - Just as Belgium’s Kim Clijsters lit up women’s tennis at the 2009 US Open, countrywoman Justine Henin’s return to the sport did as much to invigorate the game at this year’s Australian Open.

Henin fell at the last hurdle on Saturday when she lost a thrilling final to Serena Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, but not before providing the feelgood story of the tournament.

Women’s tennis needed Henin to come back in the same way it needed Clijsters.

In the six Grand Slams played between Henin’s retirement in May 2008 and Clijsters’ return before the 2009 US Open, the Williams sisters were victorious in four.

But with the Belgians’ return — even with Clijsters’ disappointing third round exit here — there is a sense that the field is now wide open and fierce rivalries of the past will be reignited once again.

That rivalry was in evidence here in the final as a match-hardened and ultra-competitive Williams took seven minutes over two hours to see off Henin, playing just her second tournament since making her comeback.

Williams’ victory underlined her claim to greatness — it was her fifth Australian Open and 12th Grand Slam singles trophy, equalling fellow American and long-time mentor Billie Jean King.

She is now only six titles behind Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time list, and seven behind Helen Wills Moody.

Steffi Graf has 22 titles with Australian Margaret Court Smith, who presented Williams with the trophy on Saturday, out in front with 24.

“I don’t even think of me as a great, I think of me just as normal,” Williams said.

“I remember when I won eight and I thought it was so cool — eight Grand Slams! Now I’ve got 12 and, oh my gosh, it’s so cool.”

With Henin back on the scene Williams will find winning Grand Slams much harder to come by in the future.

The 27-year-old Belgian showed that when she gets some tournaments under her belt she will be one of the few players able to match the world number one.

“I’ll be focused on what I have to improve in the next few weeks, the next few months,” Henin said.

“I’ve only played two tournaments. The season is still very long. I want to enjoy every moment I spend on the court and be very smart about the calendar and everything.

“Winning big tournaments... just get better, get better, get better.”

Grabbing almost as much attention as Williams and Henin were Chinese semi-finalists Li Na and Zheng Jie, the “Golden Flowers” who created history when they both reached the quarter-finals of the same Grand Slam, then went a step further to reach the final four.

The tennis world was abuzz at the prospect of the world’s most populous nation putting its not inconsiderable resources into developing players.

“It was good for both players and, of course, I think also good for China tennis,” Li said after pushing Williams in the semi-finals.

“I think if the children, they saw this time, maybe they have more confidence. They will think that maybe someday they can do this also.”

In stark contrast to the Chinese, the large Russian contingent were left rueing a poor tournament.

There was no Russian semi-finalist for the first time since 2004 after Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova both bowed out in the quarter-finals.

Second seed Dinara Safina retired hurt in the fourth round, third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova fell at the same stage and fifth seed Elena Dementieva crashed out to Henin in the second round.

Former champion Maria Sharapova failed to get past the first round.

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