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| June 4, 2005 | Saturday | Rabi-us-Sani 26, 1426 |
Payback time in first Franco-Belgian Grand Slam final
PARIS, June 3: French Open finalists Justine Henin-Hardenne and Mary Pierce have both fought through adversity to set up the first Franco-Belgian final in the history of the Grand Slam tournament.
Henin-Hardenne, the winner in 2003, was floored last year by a debilitating viral condition, then fractured her right knee-cap when she attempted a comeback. Lower back pains have bedevilled her in Paris.
Mary Pierce, the 2000 champion, spent years in the tennis wilderness depressed by a succession of injuries, weight problems and a lack of self-belief. Few thought at 30 she was capable of returning to her best.
But they have without doubt been the two most impressive players at this Roland Garros and their final on Saturday will be a passionate affair with French fans rooting for Pierce and a big Belgian contingent heading down the A1 autoroute to back Henin-Hardenne.
The 23-year-old Belgian will start favourite for several reasons.
Since making her comeback from injuries in Miami in April, she has lost just once and has won her last 23 matches in a row, all on clay, including titles in Charleston, Warsaw and Berlin.
She also has never dropped a single set to Pierce in the three matches they have played, the last being a straight sets 6-4, 6-4 victory at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
She also has the range of shots needed to mix it up with the big-hitting Pierce just as she did so effectively in the quarter-finals against Maria Sharapova.
But 30-year-old Pierce, the oldest Grand Slam finalist since Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon in 1994, has been in imperial form, relaxed, smiling and quite obviously enjoying herself at what she classes as her favourite tournament and her favourite court.
Henin-Hardenne said that she had special affection for Roland Garros where she won her first Grand Slam final two years ago, but warned that the centre court would also be an inspiration for Pierce.
“She’s in great shape just now and mentally she’s very strong because she loves to play here at the French Open,” she said. “It will be a great atmosphere in the stadium.”
“She’s not going to go for the long rallies, so it’s going to be my job to make the points a little bit longer.”
Pierce said that though she had lost all three matches she has played against Henin-Hardenne, things were different this time around.
“Those were on hard courts and this is on clay courts. It will be a different match. I’m feeling a lot fitter and I’m playing better.
“I will have nothing to lose like I’ve had nothing to lose in the last few matches. It’s going to be a fantastic match.”
Both players have slight injury black clouds hanging over them.
Henin-Hardenne has been hampered in her service action by pains in her lower back that also tightens the muscle on the back of her right thigh.
And she admits that the tiredness that she is constantly striving to keep at bay due to her viral condition is creeping up on her once again.
“It’s been a lot of tennis in this tournament. I’m feeling my legs a little bit heavy. So I think I will have to give my best one more time and then take a rest,” she said.
Pierce has complained of a groin injury that stiffens during games and also a slight sprain of her left ankle.
But both appear to be coping comfortably and the stage is set for a cracking final after three lean years in the women’s singles at Roland Garros.—AFP
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