Justine Henin Caps Off Impressive 2007 Season with Sony Ericsson Championships Title
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Nov 11, 2007 | Print |
World number one Justine Henin capped off a stellar 2007 tennis season by winning an epic final match at the Sony Ericsson Championships against Maria Sharapova on Sunday.
In the longest ever three set WTA Tour championships final, Justine Henin defeated Maria Sharapova 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 at the Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo in Madrid.
By retaining her 2006 title, Justine Henin has passed the all-time season prize money mark by winning over $5 million dollars in 2007.
One year to the day since their last meeting, Henin overcame a hesitant start to win her tenth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title of the year. The match lasted three hours, twenty-four minutes, and fifty-six seconds before Henin won the final on her fifth Championship point.
“What a way to finish the season; it is the best I could dream of,” said Henin after the match according to her official website. “A lot of things happened but I’m so relieved and happy.”
The match was filled with many memorable moments, making it a thriller that will not be forgotten by tennis fans for years. After a season marred by allegations of match-fixing, illegal drug use, and scandal, it was redemptive and fitting that two of tennis’ greatest stars battle it out for the biggest title in women’s sport.
Henin started the 2007 season by pulling out of the entire Australian circuit to deal with the aftermath of a divorce from her husband of four years, Pierre-Yves Hardenne.
“I had a lot of people around me to support me,” added Henin about the difficulties she has faced this year. “I grew up and I learnt a lot. I was sad I wasn’t in Australia this year and I hope to take my revenge in a few weeks. It’s time now for a good rest, time for holiday and two weeks off and then I’ll start my preparations.”
By February, Henin had already turned her life and career around with her first title of the year at the Dubai Duty Free Women’s Open. Henin would go on to win ten total titles in 2007, including Roland Garros, the US Open, and today’s Sony Ericsson Championships.
Henin became the first player since Steffi Graf in 1996 to win Roland Garros, the US Open, and the Tour Championships in one calendar year.
Cara Black and Liezel Huber captured their first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships doubles title also on Sunday. Black and Huber defeated Katarina Srebotnik and Ai Sugiyama 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 in the doubles final.
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Will.I.AM | Nov 11, 2007 | Reply
That was an epic match and such a fantastic way to end the season! I am just amazed at how Justine was able to stay in that match and weather all those heavy blows from Maria. Especially considering she wasn’t serving well at all.
If you didn’t know it before, you know now that Justine Henin is the best tennis player on the WTA Tour!
Hako | Nov 11, 2007 | Reply
I agree that she’s the best woman’s player in the world. If she continues in this fashion, we may have to drop the word “womens” from that sentence.
Congratulations Justines….well done.
lance | Nov 12, 2007 | Reply
She performed very well during the match. She has not given up although she was in deficit compared to Maria. She is a fighter and she has proven alot of times and that is why all her fans loved her. I was in the chatroom (Official Justine Henin site) and I could not believe what I saw/ read. Everyone was supporting her from the start to the end and they have never given up on their queen and keep on cheering/ supporting with words of encouragement; to her and also to some fans that are loosing faith…
Allez Ju Ju…
JimM | Nov 12, 2007 | Reply
A great match. Considering she has not played since the USO, Sharapova was outstanding in this tournie. Clearly she is finding her form again. Had she been fully fit I believe she would have won here.
JuJu proves you do not have to serve at 125 mph in order to win. In todays rankings, she is almost 3000 points ahead of Kuznetsova.
2008 promises to be an eventfull season.
Louise | Nov 12, 2007 | Reply
Kuznetsova all the way next year!
helaena | Nov 12, 2007 | Reply
juju is truly the best in women’s tennis ATM…i hope she keeps this up in ‘08…she is such a good competitor, she plays with her heart…truly outstanding…never gives up…its like crazy, she just has to believe in herself that she will win the match and she finds a way to win it…
Dapxin | Nov 12, 2007 | Reply
Geeez, the post match comments I have been reading about this game makes me feel so bad for missing it…
Crash! I m off to find a download so I can at least see what went on and off.
Congrats to Justine anyways. She deserves all she’s won this year.
Here is wishing we have more competitive 2008 with the williams duo fit and injury free.
Nick | Nov 12, 2007 | Reply
Even with her serve working great this week, Maria had a tough time with Justine, nevertheless it was a great final. Justine’s relentless assualt of Maria’s serve in the second and third set gave Maria a lot of problems. If everyone gets fit in 2008 and give Henin a run for her titles, it should be a lot of fun.
Jojo | Nov 17, 2007 | Reply
WWOOOooow Cara and Liezel !! Well done Girls !! You are the best !!
Poh | Nov 27, 2007 | Reply
Justine’s years are 2006,2007,2008,2009 hopefully until 2012 London Olympic Games…no doubt she will win Wimbledon Final next year COME ON JUSTINE