Justine Henin-Hardenne Hopes to be Ready for WTA Championships
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Oct 16, 2006 | Print
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Justine Henin-Hardenne’s knee injury is on the mend, the world No. 2 is back practicing, and she has her sights set on the Season-Ending Championships in Madrid.
Henin-Hardenne, who qualified for the Championships last season before withdrawing with a hamstring injury, has been out of action since the Fed Cup final where she injured her right knee.
According to her official website, the world number two has resumed practicing and unless anything changes, she will be participating in the prestigious event.
The four weeks of rest apparently did her good. She has received the green light and can start training back on court this week. She will have to begin again prudently, of course.
If everything goes according to plan, and there are no surprises, complications or injury relapses Justine is certain to be able to take part in the Sony Ericsson WTA Championships in Madrid. She’ll have three weeks to find her form, and hopes to be ready to face the world’s best seven players.
(source: Henin-Hardenne’s Official Website)
Justine may be cautiously optimistic about playing in the Championships, but she is still capable of closing in on Amelie Mauresmo for the season-ending number one ranking. Mauresmo’s been playing more tennis this fall, even through injury, in hopes of holding onto the top spot, but it may all come down to the week in Madrid to settle who will head into the 2007 season as the best player in the world.
I personally think that Amelie will hold onto the number one ranking, but what about you? Who do you think will reign - Amelie, Justine, or long-shot Maria Sharapova?
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Sapphisto | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
ALLEZ AMELIE!!!
(Just in case there was any doubt about my feelings on the matter! LOL)
I personally would hate to see Shriekie get it. I think she (and her father) already have far too great an influence on the sport, and not necessarily a healthy one. Plus she tends to agree with the WTA far too readily (or vice versa, I’m not sure which!) Having your #1 player in the world come out and criticize the tour or voice a different opinion tends to keep you honest, I’m thinking.
Of course, I would love to see Amelie hold on to the #1 spot, and everyone knows, she’s obviously hungry for it. I just don’t know how well her various injuries are going to hold up to three consecutive tournaments immediately after the Stuttgart withdrawal, and then going straight into the YEC without a break. Also, she seems to be a little distracted these days - I hope all is well. She needs to win the YEC again.
Regardless, I’ll be cheering for her no matter what.
momofan | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
Aaress, I just read an excellent calculation on Amelie’s official website, and it seems that Amelie will need to win Zurich, pray that Justine loses all her YEC matches, and defend her YEC title to stay at No. 1.
Nevertheless,
ALLEZ AMELIE!
Here’s the calculation:
http://www.ameliemauresmo.fr/interactive/index.php?showtopic=2721
Aaress | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
Momofan, thanks - I knew it was close, but I had not realized just how close!!! She’s got a great draw in Zurich, but I do wonder about her chances of taking out Hingis or Kuznetsova in the semis.
Alsacienne | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
Ouch, I didn’t know it was that small a chance for Amélie to hold on to the top spot. Pretty hopeless I think, good draw in Zürich or not.
Judging from the way she played in Moscow, she looks really tired. She lacks the agressiveness she displayed in Oz and Wimbledon, lots of girls are in great shape nowadays and can run down any ball. Just playing with variety and hoping to confuse an opponent won’t be enough I’m afraid.
My guess: she might win against Hingis but no chance against Kusznetsova. Svetlana beat her very easily in Beijing and has won every one of their matches this year. And Schnyder will be super-motivated, so Amélie needs to make it to the semis first.
Let’s just hope that Peer of Vaidisova take out Sharapova - I can live with Justine making number one but not with the Icecube.
I also want to comment on Sapphisto’s remark about Sharapova’s influence on the sport: I have no idea why Americans go so nuts about her. It’s not at all like this here in Europe. Sure, there is an element of the IT-Girl, but it’s only because she is the IT-girl in the States. No commercials, no full-page ads, no nothing. I happened to be in Michigan during the US Open and was very surprised to see how heavily she was featured.
Here in France, it’s Amélie and all the French players, period. Neutral commentary about the Russians but not unkind. Neutral or mostly exasperation about Ms. S. (I love French commentators for sometimes being not neutral!). In Germany and Switzerland, neutral on everyone if tennis is features at all. So no world-wide influence.
Her influence in the US is dangerous though because a lot of the money that goes to tennis comes from the US. And the WTA is a US organisation who hear US sponsors first and foremost (correct me if I’m wrong). What makes it so dangerous to me is that she may be an excellent tennis player but everything but a good role model. She exhibits all the wrong behaviors - openly cheating, money-greedy (by her own words which you, Aaress, so nicely reported), complete lack of respect or compassion for her opponents,… just the fact that she has no friends but one on the tour tells all! How on earth Americans can think her hot is beyond me. I love the US, great place, great people, but still… Does this mean money is eveything and values nothing in this oh-so-christian country?
I would really like to see more of the nice and generous players (Kim, Amélie, Lindsay…) featured as role models. Kim giving away the puppy on the front pages rather than Sharapova’s newest endorsement. This also means the players have to act as role models and reach out to the public more to spread their message and their values. Kim certainly does that in Belgium, but who else in women’s tennis? Federer does a nice job of that I think, and Rafa is getting there.
Anyhow, if it were for values, Amélie would certainly come out on top of the three contenders for #1.
Alsacienne | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
PS on the 3# contenders: the Zurich Open had a poll on who will be #1 at year end: Amélie 40%, Justine 24%, Sharapova 36%…
see http://www.zurichopen.net/index.php?pn=polls_result&lc=en&id=25
today’s poll is “who is the most stylish player” - Sharapova is not even on the list… and Dementieva in the lead, yeah!
Aaress | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
Very thought-provoking comments Alsacienne!
Unfortunately, you were 100% correct on the fact that money and greed is taking over my country. Talent equals only about 30% of endorsements and popularity. Sex-appeal and a cute smile more than takes care of the remaining 70% percent. Just look at Anna Kournikova.
I was one step away from placing Sharapova at the top of the one-slam wonder list when she won the US Open, but was relieved to see that she was finally able to back up all the money she is being paid with another big win.
A champion is much more than a pretty face - it’s someone who has overcome adversity, displays character, is a positive role model and gives back to the community. Who wouldn’t give their right arm to have Monica Seles or Gabriela Sabatini back on the Tour?!!?
Thanks for posting the poll - kind of strange not to see Sharapova on the list! (I through in an extra vote for Tatiana
)
momofan | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
I am biased as heck, but I will say that Amelie’s sexy, stylish game (that bh! OH, my!), attitude, and all she stands for makes her far sexier than Kournikova and Sharapova put together. It’s just a shame that in my country (US as well) such things aren’t recognized as much as traditional “sex appeal” is. Unfortunately, in today’s America, sex sells.
As an aside, as a self-professed “super-nerd,” I find it really cute to see pics of the tennis players reading good books (like Amelie with her history books and Dementieva with the Russian authors!). These girls are so much more than screaming on court, bashing the ball, $uper Endor$ement$, or raw “sex appeal.” You go, girls!
momofan | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
Oh whoa it censored out s_exy. Sorry Aaress, I didn’t know it was a bad word! My bad!
Aaress | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
I’m so sorry momofan! Umm . . . I uploaded a new “politifier” wordpress plugin to help prevent the boatloads of spam comments that thankfully never appear, and it is censoring everything in sight. I had to “uncensor” my own comment!
I’ll fix it!
Sapphisto | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
Alsacienne, thank you for the feedback - and it’s so nice to know Europe is still somewhat civilized! (I’m not actually American, but I’ve been living here for… a long time - I am originally from the UK).
I agree, the coverage of Shriekie over here is ridiculous. And the point about her influence in the US is exactly what I was getting at: she’s a somewhat pretty face, and as they say here in the US (and as Aaress alluded) - sex sells, baby! And that of course leads very neatly into the issue of role models. I think you know where I stand on that!
So here’s another wish that “the good guy” comes out on top.
Yes, Amelie is looking very weary at this point in the season. She needs a minor miracle to keep #1, but I’m not tired of cheering for her, so:
ALLEZ AMELIE!!!
Sapphisto | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
ROFL, Aaress - by all means, uncensor yourself!!
Computers are only as good as the code they run… hence the old saying: garbage in, garbage out. But it does lead to some funny stuff.
And Momo, I would never have pegged you as biased. *blink, blink*
Brant | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
my moneys on the long-shot… SHARAPOVA!!!
wood LOVE 2 c her bak at the top… wood cringe is justine got there…
haha
Aaress | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
Hey Momofan - Speaking of Amelie and her history books & Dementieva with her Russian classics, I always loved those posters in the library that showed athletes studying.
There is nothing worse than brawn with no brains . . . *shudder*
Nexty | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
what a debat lol
momofan I’ve got a better thing
http://www.ameliemauresmo.fr/interactive/index.php?showtopic=2716&st=0
post n1 et n4…
hope you speak french lol
momofan | Oct 16, 2006 | Reply
Thanks Nexty. I don’t speak French does, but Babelfish does, lol!
This situation reminds me a lot of Sampras in one year that he finished Year-Ending No. 1: he was No. 2 for most of the year, then played his behind off in the indoor season, and just eclipsed the other person (forgot who it was. Maybe Andre?) for the Year-Ending No. 1. But if we look it at objectively (hard, I know, for us momofans), we will see that Amelie has been No. 1 for the majority of this year; something like 30 consecutive weeks, and 35 weeks overall in her career; and 2 GS, imo, is something she must be terribly, terribly proud of. So my girl has already made me proud this year. Nevertheless,
ALLEZ AMELIE!
Sapphisto | Oct 17, 2006 | Reply
Thanks for the link, Nexty!
Vicki | Oct 17, 2006 | Reply
I would like to start with a question how can someone who has won 2 slams this year not end the year world number 1? I hope Maria doesn’t get it and Amelie deserves to it even Justine has better claims to it than Maria at least Justine has made all four finals this year. If there is a tennis god please don’t let Maria end the year number 1. We hear enough about her as it is.
stewpot | Oct 17, 2006 | Reply
In response to Alsacienne’ insight, some in our country can let greed or the love of money direct our actions when what is important is our hearts. Outward actions can reflect a heart that is kind, but is it truly kind or deceitful? A person can seem jolly on the outside but inside they are hurting and sad. Only One knows the heart.
Aaress, for us new fans of women’s tennis could you post a little photo of each of the contenders? I am curious about the fashion statements referred to above in that poll.
In order to get more American stars in tennis, we need to increase the number of girls choosing tennis as their sport.Tennis is not what the kids on the block get together and play. They prefer soccer, football, volleyball, or baseball. It costs little to participate in those sports early on and one can learn the game and scoring without much difficulty. If The WTA wants to encourage the popularity of tennis in general and women’s tennis especially, then they need to encourage the sport in the communities. It seems to me it is a sport that is difficult for the youth to get involved in as tennis courts are not prevalent and expensive lessons can prohibit many young folks from entering the sport.
Aaress | Oct 17, 2006 | Reply
Sorry Brant - It looks like you’re the only one rooting for Maria, and with Maria entering Linz, she might actually stand a chance!
Vicki - to answer your question on how Amelie could not end the year No. 1 with two GS titles - it has happened before. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario won Roland Garros and the US Open in 1994, but still did not manage to end the season at No. 1. Obviously this was during the time that Steffi Graf was reigning, but Arantxa still started the year at No. 2, and even though Steffi only won 1 GS that year, she still came in second.
I agree with you - if Amelie does not get the top spot, I think it should be Justine. Unfortunately, Maria has played a whole more than Justine this season, and its QUANTITY that matters on the rankings sometimes more than QUALITY.
Aaress | Oct 17, 2006 | Reply
Stewpot - Thanks for your wise thoughts and insights! It’s great to have you a part of our discussion. Money is all well and good - but its what’s on the inside that truly matters.
As for the fashion poll, I think the results may be a little skewed because they’ve left off a lot of contenders.
It’s a little difficult to post that many images in comments, but here are the links to each player’s profile, and they may give you a good idea of what they look like.
Elena Dementieva
Tatiana Golovin
Daniela Hantuchova
Jelena Jankovic
Maria Kirilenko
Anastasia Myskina
The only one that I kind of raised an eyebrow over was Maria Kirilenko. To quote the words of the always witty Steggy over at Peter Bodo’s TennisWorld, the tennis dress that Stella McCartney (Paul’s daughter) designed for Kirilenko at the US Open looked a bit too much like a “limp, gray gunny-sack”.
Alsacienne | Oct 17, 2006 | Reply
Everyone,
thanks for your comments and replies - glad to see you agree! I meant to provoke a discussion after all. Of couse I know that not everyone in the US is all s e x and money driven and you guys here on the website sure aren’t.
Unfortunately, in today’s world what we know and start to believe is very much driven by the media. Sharapova being the one player heavily featured means lots of casual watchers will equate tennis = Sharapova.
About Kirilenko’s dress:
very bad taste of you ask me. The way it accentuates breasts and butt - has s e x written all over it.
On stewpot’s comment:
you are right of course that we can’t judge from an impression or outward behaviour what one’s values really are. But in the case of public persons such as top athletes I think the case is a little bit different: just because they are in the media so much they are role models and have an obligation to act as such.
Who of you (apart form lucky Aaress) has ever met any of the players, and knows them well enough to really know? We as “the public” build an opinion based on what commentators say, reporters write, but mostly what we hear and see on TV and how we interpret all that for ourselves. And based on that opinion each one of us will happen to become a fan of one person and not of another.
Players and media have a responsibility - I would like the players to be more aware of that and the media to act more responsibly in what kind of values they promote. Definitely not as censorship, but as a reflection of a society’s values.
Let me know if you need help with some translation from French - pas de soucis du tout mesdames!
Sapphisto | Oct 17, 2006 | Reply
Very good point, Alsacienne, and I couldn’t agree more.
To paraphrase an old saying, anyone who *wants* to be a role model, shouldn’t be allowed to be one! And it’s usually the case that the best role models don’t see themselves as such and express doubts when other people say anything to that effect.
And I may take you up on that translation offer once in a while!
Aaress | Oct 18, 2006 | Reply
Alsacienne - Thanks so much for offering to translate! I’ll let you know if I need anything!
Rick | Oct 19, 2006 | Reply
Justine’s probably or Maria’s most likely to be #1 after Madrid. I hate to tell some of you momoheads, but she’s sort of peaked. I doubt she’ll win another grand slam next year. The first one was sheer luck with 3 forfeits, the Wimbledom one is legit and should be her’s to gloat about to her old lady girlfriends for years to come.
Enjoy it girls! Amelie has said herself in Zurich the other day that she’s happy with her two GS titles, and doesn’t care if Justine becomes number again. Well… what can you expect from the #1 player that receives bagels?
Sapphisto | Oct 20, 2006 | Reply
Rick - remember your words, carefully. I will.
And when Amelie raises her arms in triumph again in England’s green and pleasant land, you remember mine.
For seven long years, Amelie toiled away with humility, courage in the face of adversity, and undeniable skill. She never gave up, she never went away, she never let the petty and mean-spirited comments stop her from reaching for glory. Her truest supporters share her triumphs and tragedies in equal measure; and like her, we also know how to stay the course.
When Amelie next hoists a major trophy, I will have forgotten your name as you are unimportant to me in the grand scheme of things. I will, however, remember the comments of you and your ilk, and spare a brief moment to indulge in savage delight at how this remarkable woman has yet again gainsaid her detractors.
I look forward to that moment.