Justine No Longer Hamstrung by Hamstring - 網球

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Justine No Longer Hamstrung by Hamstring
by Nick McAvaney
Friday, 20 January, 2006


Twelve months ago a knee injury ended Justine Henin-Hardenne's campaign for a
second successive Australian Open title, before it even began, and the
Belgian has admitted she almost had to forgo the trip for the second year in
a row.

The No.8 seed at Australian Open 2006 confirmed she only made a last-minute
decision to travel to Australia as she was still struggling with a right
hamstring strain that had forced her out of the game since October.

"Still a few weeks ago I didn't know if I was going to be able to come here
in Australia with my hamstring problem. Now it's feeling great,"
Henin-Hardenne said after recording a 6-4 6-1 win over Frenchwoman Virginie
Razzano to advance to the fourth round.

"I feel very lucky that I'm here, so I try to take the advantage of that.
Just try to enjoy my game ... I'm very happy that I'm healthy. That's the
most important thing for me right now."

It's a far cry from when Henin-Hardenne was shattered as she faced another
lengthy spell off the courts after she injured her knee during a training
session ahead of last year's Open.

The injury came as she had only just made her return to the court following a
lengthy layoff in 2004 due to cytomegalovirus.

Not surprisingly, Henin-Hardenne says she's happy back on the courts at
Melbourne Park.

"I came here in Australia to play a lot of matches. Every match is bonus for
me, when I get the chance to play another match. It's great for my
confidence. It's very good to be back healthy on the courts."

The right-hander admitted she had experienced soreness in her right shoulder
since the beginning of the tournament and it played up during her service
games in her match with Razzano.

"I could feel it a little bit in the second set today just when I'm serving.
But it's the kind of things you have to deal with, I think. Every player has
a little problem in a grand slam in one match … I hope I'll be better next
match," she said.

With her improved fitness, Henin-Hardenne's satisfaction with her game and
confidence has also risen, especially after her commanding third-round
victory.

But she said there are still moments where she has feared defeat.

"I was a little bit scared about this match (against Razzano) because I know
she can be a dangerous player if you let her play, if you give her a lot of
rhythm.

"That's what happened in the beginning of the match. But as soon as I started
to mix it up a little bit more, I think I've been very consistent, pretty
solid."

Rhythm is what Henin-Hardenne feels she is lacking and she said earlier in
the tournament she believes it will come with matches and plenty of them.

"I keep saying that I need matches, I need confidence. I need just to take
the rhythm of the competition again. Especially in grand slam, it's very
different. It's different kind of atmosphere. A lot of pressure and
everything."

She remains on track to face either Lindsay Davenport or Svetlana Kuznetsova
in the quarter-finals, but says she hasn't been watching any other matches
during the tournament to see how her likely opponents are shaping up.

"I didn't watch any match. I don't want to watch any match of anyone here. I
just want to stay focused on myself. In the evenings I watch DVDs, but not
tennis on TV," she said.

Henin-Hardenne has the chance to boost her confidence further in the fourth
round when she faces Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual, whom she has is yet to
concede a set to in the three times they have met.

The pair met in the quarter-finals of Australian Open 2003, where
Henin-Hardenne won 6-2 6-2.


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