澳洲網球公開賽2007-正式行程 P.65 (下) - 網球

The same qualities, however, that have enabled Henin-Hardenne to thrive on

the count - her raw ambition, her business-like demeanour, her fierce

determination - sometimes work to her detriment. Henin-Hardenne herself has

admitted that she isn't the most popular player amongst her peers. And, of

course, it was in the final of AO2006 that she drew criticism for her decision

to retire midway through the second set of the match with a stomach ache,

meaning her opponent, Amelie Mauresmo, was denied the satisfaction of winning

a match point. In the aftermatch of that incident, Henin-Hardenne said her

mistake was in taking an anti-inflammatory for her shoulder that triggered her

stomach pains - not in her decision to abandon the match. Put in the position

again, she says, she would act no differently.

When Henin-Hardenne return to Melbourne, the topic of last year's final is

sure to surface. But, as she went on to reach the finals of three remaining

majors in 2006, making her just the seventh woman in WTA history to play the

last match in each of the four majors(and the first since Martina Hingis in

1997), and ended the year ranked number one. In those four big-ticket matches,

however, she won only one, RG. Henin-Hardenne said after losing the Us open

final, "It was a good year, but a disappointing one at the same time."

This unique figure in women's tennis will have a chance to get back to her

winning ways in Melbourne, and given Henin-Hardenne has made the final in the

last two year in which she's competed here(she missed 2005 through injury),

you'd be foolish to bet against her. (結束)

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