FACES OF THE OPEN BY JEFF SPIELBERGER
JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE
One gets the feeling that Justine Henin-Hardenne never quite got the memo
about the WTA workplace culture. At a time when so many players of Amazonian
stature, Henin-Hardenne checks in at just 167cm and weighs just 57kg. And in an
era where most players pin themselves to the baseline and bludgeon
groundstrokes, coming to the net only to shake hands after the match,Henin
-Hardenne plays a comprehensive all-count game, predicated on a diversified
portfolio of shots. While many other top players moonlight as models and treat
the count as their personal catwalk, Henin-Hardenne is interested only in her
tennis, not in fashion, movie roles or other trappings of celebrity.
While the Belgian may cut an atypical figure, her career has been a study
five major singles titles-as many as far more heralded colleagues the likes
of Martina Hingis and Venus Williams-and some US$13 million in prizemoney.
Even playing a reduced schedule, she has spent considerable time holding the
WTA's number one ranking. A nod to her well-rounded game, she has reached the
final of every Grand Slam at least twice. "Tennis is about being
'in the moment' and focusing on what is in front you,"she says. "But sometimes
(when I reflect), I am thinking what an unbelievable career I am having."
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JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE
One gets the feeling that Justine Henin-Hardenne never quite got the memo
about the WTA workplace culture. At a time when so many players of Amazonian
stature, Henin-Hardenne checks in at just 167cm and weighs just 57kg. And in an
era where most players pin themselves to the baseline and bludgeon
groundstrokes, coming to the net only to shake hands after the match,Henin
-Hardenne plays a comprehensive all-count game, predicated on a diversified
portfolio of shots. While many other top players moonlight as models and treat
the count as their personal catwalk, Henin-Hardenne is interested only in her
tennis, not in fashion, movie roles or other trappings of celebrity.
While the Belgian may cut an atypical figure, her career has been a study
five major singles titles-as many as far more heralded colleagues the likes
of Martina Hingis and Venus Williams-and some US$13 million in prizemoney.
Even playing a reduced schedule, she has spent considerable time holding the
WTA's number one ranking. A nod to her well-rounded game, she has reached the
final of every Grand Slam at least twice. "Tennis is about being
'in the moment' and focusing on what is in front you,"she says. "But sometimes
(when I reflect), I am thinking what an unbelievable career I am having."
--
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