Tennis Talk 2009

[lt]

Oooh, thank you acre, I forgot all about that retirement--and I HATE when players retire in matches where they are losing and without a real reason.

[admin]

Is it 100% official confirmation? She was meant to be having a press conference this PM, and I haven't heard anything but speculation today.

If true, I'm absolutely stoked that she'll be back. I never much liked her as a person, especially after the Aus Open final. I don't think for a minute that she couldn't have finished that match. I always found her cold and difficult to warm to. But I did love her game, her tennis brain and I just think the sport will be better for her being in it. Having said that.. there's no saying that she will get back to the top 5. Maybe it just won't happen. Can't wait to find out though.

[curlywhirly]

I already posted my thoughts on a Justine comeback in the Haterade thread, so I won't repeat myself. But I will say I look forward to seeing Serena, Kim and Venus improve their H2Hs over her.

[falafaclese]

The timing of the retirement was also an issue. Momo had won the first set 6-1, and was leading 2-0 in the second set. The expectation was that the match would soon be over because Justine didn't look like she had any answers. After the retirement, she explained that she had a stomach ache as acre said. My gripe was that she should have just let Momo finish it up. Three games to go, and no real structural injuries that could have worsened with more play. I think Momo went out there with a game plan. She seemed to be determined to play a lot of high-bouncing topspin shots, and executed it well. I never doubted the truth of the stomach ache, just her unwillingness to finish out a huge match which had the potential to be a career changer for Momo.

ETA: In spite of the fact that I don't find her particularly compelling as a person, I always respond positively to her game, so I think having her back will be a good thing. She doesn't seem like a bad or malicious person, maybe there's just some weakness of character there, I don't know.

[lt]

From the SkySports article I grabbed from Forty Deuce re: Kim's impact:

"Subconsciously, it might have had an impact," Henin said. "But it certainly was not the most important reason."

Well, that wasn't very nice.

For the Justine haters out there, one thing to be happy about regarding why she's coming back (to win Wimbledon) is from Lendl's obsession to win one tournament--you don't win that tournament and you tend to go down in the others.

[admin]

So.. 100% from the source. She'll be back next year.

I can understand her saying she's not coming back solely on seeing Kim's impact. No matter what, training to come back to the WTA Tour is no small feat. It must take a lot of effort and time, if you're doing it properly. I'm sure anyone would take it as an afront, having it assumed that you're coming back as a reaction to a fellow countrywoman doing the same.

[amarathe]

My gripe was that she should have just let Momo finish it up. Three games to go, and no real structural injuries that could have worsened with more play. I think Momo went out there with a game plan. She seemed to be determined to play a lot of high-bouncing topspin shots, and executed it well.

Wow, this is exactly what I would have said. I remember watching that match thinking "Holy shit, Mauresmo found the perfect game plan and she's killing Henin. Please don't choke!" Then Henin retired with a stomach ache, and Mauresmo couldn't even celebrate her first slam victory properly.

The post-match press conferences solidified my hate for Henin and love for Momo:

Henin: First of all, I feel very sorry for myself. But I didn't see any point in continuing play when I had no chance of winning.
Mauresmo: I was ready to die on court.

IMHO, a player should only retire if the injury/illness is so bad that he/she would have retired while winning the match.

[acre]

Have to admit I don't really want to see Henin win Wimbledon. I don't care if she wins other
Slams that she already has, but I don't like her enough to wish for a career Slam for her. Though given the recent state of the tour, I can see a situation developing where I'm so disgusted with everyone else's efforts that I'd have to for her by default. I consider that unlikely though, so long as the Williams' are healthy and if Sharapova ever gets her game back together.

I have considered that maybe, possibly Justine has changed in this time off. Become less closed off, perhaps warmer and more relatable - maybe she'll have a whole different attitude and vibe after reassessing and returning. Not holding my breath however! I didn't see big differences in demeanor in any of the other returness - Davenport, Hingis, Clijsters. I think you pretty much are who you are, certainly by the latter 20's, short of big major events in one's life. I mean, I'm a big believer in change and growth, but not to one's basic personality, and definitely not in a year.

[roseha]

I'm really not thrilled with this Henin return, though it remains to be seen how long she sticks around. I know she's a great player, but her behavior in matches totally turns me off, especially the AO retirement. Plus I have never agreed with those who compared her game to Fed's. I don't see anything near the grace or shotmaking that he has.

I grant you JH is tough (when she's winning anyway) but I can't get too excited about this. I was actually hoping for some new champions on the women's side though I did very much enjoy Kim's win at the USO.

[Mpol]

Kim, Justine, Serena, Venus rivalry. I wouldn't be too pissed with that at all. I think their great matches ended prematurley. Here's hoping we see a lot more to come. Kim's win over Serena was one of the better women's matches in a LONG TIME.

[barelyawake]

Sept 22, 2009 16:29:23 GMT admin said:

If true, I'm absolutely stoked that she'll be back. I never much liked her as a person, especially after the Aus Open final. I don't think for a minute that she couldn't have finished that match. I always found her cold and difficult to warm to. But I did love her game, her tennis brain and I just think the sport will be better for her being in it. Having said that.. there's no saying that she will get back to the top 5. Maybe it just won't happen. Can't wait to find out though.

My thoughts exactly. I won't exactly be rooting for her, but I think it will be good for the WTA to have her back and it should bring out some better tennis from the other top players.

[Mpol]

The real synical side of me is thinking how much did the WTA pay the two girls to come back...

[amarathe]

I doubt the WTA is begging Henin to come back. I remember the WTA CEO said "we won't lose any sleep over it" when they asked him about Henin's retirement. Henin was never very popular, she didn't have the charisma or personality to win over new fans, and her questionable sportsmanship just made her unlikable for a lot of people.

Comparing Henin to Lendl is interesting, because Lendl was an unpopular dominant #1 player as well. And Lendl has his Wimbledon obsession as well. In the last article I read, Wimbledon is the big motivator for Henin. She's re-tooling her serve and even talking about skipping clay events to focus on grass. I remember Lendl skipping the French to make an all out push for Wimbledon, and I get the sense that Henin may follow suit.

[pokey]

I hope it works out just as well for Henin as it did for Lendl then.

[curlywhirly]

It would be highly foolish of Henin to skip the French! I can't imagine she'd do that. Who knows, maybe I'll have to eat crow and she'll win Wimby but I can't see it happening. Obsessing over one tournament is never a good idea, and in an effort to re-tool her game for one tourny she could throw off her play on other surfaces. I doubt retooling your serve effectively is even possible when you are 27. Look at how much trouble Pova is having at 22.

She should just try to get her normal game back to a high level, focus on winning titles period and she will certainly be a favorite at the French and a contender for the AO. If she is playing well, she will have her chances at Wimby but she will need some luck to get past a healthy Venus and Serena. They are flat out better grass court players than she is. Really I think she's vulnerable to any player who hits hard and flat on grass (a Bartoli or Lisicki for example).