Justine Henin: The Woman Behind the Trophy
Posted by Aaress Lawless on May 30, 2007 | Print
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The great British statesman Winston Churchill once said that Russia was a “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”
If Churchill had been alive today and a follower of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, he might have decided to use those same words when describing world number one Justine Henin.
Justine Henin is arguably one of the most fascinating, yet perplexing players on the women’s circuit. Tennis writers have never been able to get a solid grasp on the enigmatic Belgian’s personality, but they all agree on one thing - she’s a complex woman, but quite a champion.
Like her clay-court hero, Steffi Graf, Justine keeps her emotions and heart in check and even after winning five Grand Slam titles, we still have only seen glimpses of her inner core.
Tragedy has shaped Justine into the person she is today, and many of the major milestones in her career were marked by a difficult event in the life of the diminutive woman.
Her passion for winning Roland Garros was fueled by watching Steffi Graf play in Paris at the age of ten, just prior to the death of her mother. She reached the final of Wimbledon in 2001 only to receive the news, just moments after her loss to Venus Williams, that her grandfather had passed away.
She played one of her best seasons to date in 2006 with three Grand Slam final finishes and her third title at Roland Garros, only to announce her separation from her husband of four years, Pierre-Yves Hardenne, in January.
Given Justine’s track record of being silent on personal affairs, it is not surprising that she clams up whenever she is asked about her decision to split from Pierre-Yves.
“That remains pretty private, and very personal,” said Henin at the 2007 Sony Ericsson Open. “But making decisions is tough for everyone, and that’s life. In your life you have to make decisions . . . but it’s been a big change in my life.”
After beginning to put the pieces of her personal life back together, Henin went back to doing what she has always done best - hitting a tennis ball. For some, tennis is a game, for others it is a job, but for Justine Henin, it is her haven of peace, her security blanket.
Just because Justine appears reticent to talk about her personal problems, that is not to say that she is still wallowing in her difficulties.
“You need to move forward, and find something that helps you and that’s what I did in every difficult time of my life,” acknowledged Justine. “That’s what I’m still doing now.”
Moving forward is never easy, but Justine is ready for the challenge. “I just have to find my place again on the circuit, in my life,” admitted Henin. “I’m getting better. I’m on the good way, but it takes probably a couple of months to feel 100% about that.”
It has been a few months since Justine said those words and she’ll have a prime opportunity to continue her emotional comeback as she returns to the site of her greatest triumphs. She is a long way away from calling Roland Garros her “house” as she is still far behind Chris Evert’s record of seven titles and Graf’s six, but she does have an opportunity to etch her own name in the history books this season.
The only woman to win three consecutive French Open titles in history was Monica Seles from 1990 to 1992. Justine has won the trophy three out of the last four years and now has a chance to tie Seles for the record and continue her pursuit of Evert’s seven titles.
She opened her title pursuit on Sunday with a solid straight sets win, but she was not fortunate enough to receive a kind draw. She could possibly face her toughest opponent, Serena Williams, in the quarterfinals, and Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals, who sooner or later, will finally win one of their thrilling three-set encounters.
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Nick | May 30, 2007 | Reply
Great article…
Justine was a little scratchy in her first round match, I think she’ll be on her toe against Passek.
She’s already scaring her friends like Kim did with the feeling old at 25 and retiring in a few years…can’t believe it, probably in 5 years Justine, Serena, Venus, and Amelie will join Pierce, Capriati, and Seles on the retirement trail. I don’t think Davenport will be back either.
So a whole new generation will be coming forth, Jankovic’s probably one of them.
Aaress | May 30, 2007 | Reply
Thanks Nick.
Yes, Paszek is really giving Justine a work-out today, especially toward the end of the first set. Too bad the rain had to stop play.
Very true about the retirement - in five years, all those women you named may be in the history books and doing on-air commentary.
Nick | May 30, 2007 | Reply
Yeah, rain is here again…was a strange set for Justine, but she dug it out.