From both Henin perfect again in third straight title and DeSimone: Henin’s personal journey.
An hour after clutching her fourth French Open trophy, Justine Henin cradled other precious cargo in her arms: her 6-week-old niece.
Talking and laughing with friends and relatives in a lounge just off center court, Henin slowly rocked her brother’s baby, then gently kissed her head. As much as a sixth Grand Slam title meant to the top-ranked Belgian, this scene was worth far more.
For Henin, life off the court has long presented far more problems than life on it. So after overwhelming No. 7 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia 6-1, 6-2 Saturday for a third consecutive French Open championship, Henin was thrilled to be able to sip champagne alongside family members with whom she only recently re-established contact.
“It’s been a huge step in my life in the last few months. And I was glad I could give them this victory, because everyone suffered a lot,” said Henin, who went about seven years without speaking to her father or three siblings. “Today, finally, we are united in this joy, and we can share this moment.”
“I want to dedicate this victory to my family,” she said. “I missed you. I want to offer this victory to you. I love you with all my heart.”
“That was my heart that was talking,” Henin said later. “What happened in the past is the past, and I just want to move forward, and look forward, and enjoy every moment of my life with them back in it now.”It was a brave and atypical public declaration that speaks worlds about how Henin has evolved from an athlete who looked exclusively dead ahead to a woman whose personal struggles have improved her depth perception.
She wouldn’t discuss what precipitated the estrangement, nor what prompted the reconciliation. Her brother David said things changed when he was in a car accident this year and awoke from a coma to find Henin in his room.
Henin smiled almost teasingly when she declined to reveal the contents of several envelopes she opened during and after the match. They contained notes from Rodriguez. Most were about tactics, she said. As for the last one, “I’m going to keep it for me,” Henin said.
Related: Justine Henin back on form.
Sep 9, Bonnie D. Ford: Season comes full circle for Henin.
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Henin retires on top of rankings after early-season slump. (ESPN)
Few shared the love of tennis, competition quite like Guga. (ESPN by Bonnie D. Ford)
Au Revoir, Guga.
2008 French Open
Roger Federer was humiliated 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday in a disarming display of mastery by Rafael Nadal. You have to go back 31 years here at Roland Garros — to when Guillermo Vilas dropped a 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 bomb on Brian Gottfried (the name says it all) — to find a beatdown this bad.
“What can you do?” Federer asked, plaintively. “It’s disappointing because I really thought I was playing well the last few weeks and months.
“After a loss like this, you don’t want to play Rafa again tomorrow, that’s for sure.”
The three ascendant Serbians — Novak Djokovic, Ivanovic and Jankovic — have always been careful to say the right things about each other. But now that they have reached the top of tennis (they are all ranked among the top three), watch out.
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And now, the Serbian stamp controversy threatens this happy little trio. It turns out the Serbian government has placed their faces on postage stamps. But the stamps are not of equal value. Djokovic’s checks in at 46 dinars, while Ivanovic’s (40 dinars) and Jankovic’s stamps (30 dinars) are worth less.
Ivanovic and Jankovic are on record as complaining that the three stamps should have an equal value. Hmm …
How does anyone beat Federer on grass?
“You need to be Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place,” said Safin, a four-set winner over nemesis Feliciano Lopez.
Nadal outlasts Federer in epic final. (ESPN)
“I am very happy for me,” Nadal said, “but sorry for him, because he deserved this title, too.”
Through rain, wind and descending darkness, the two greatest players of their generation swapped spectacular shots, until, against a slate sky, Nadal earned the right to fling his racket aside and collapse on his back, champion of the All England Club at last.
“Probably my hardest loss, by far,” Federer said. “I mean, it’s not much harder than this right now.”
Out of Wimbledon’s darkness, a new tennis era shines. (IHT)
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But what continues to define Nadal as a tennis player is his point-in, point-out combativeness and positive energy. The latest example came Sunday, as he soldiered on after squandering two match points in the fourth set.
“If you watch 10 courts, almost on every court without looking at the scoreboard, you know who is winning or losing from the body language,” said American coach Brad Gilbert. “With Rafa, looking at the scoreboard makes no difference. He could be 5-0 up or 0-5 down, and he’s battling.”
Federer snaps gold drought, joins Wawrinka in doubles triumph. (ESPN)
Nadal tops Chile’s Gonzalez in straight sets to capture gold. (ESPN)
Dementieva beats Russian compatriot Safina for gold.
The Williams sisters take gold in doubles.
Rafa-Roger Rivalry Hyped at Grapple in the Apple. (usopen)
From ESPN,
Federer rolls past Murray to win 13th Grand Slam title.
Federer’s emphatic statement at U.S. Open salvages deflated season.
Since assembling new team, Murray has flourished, matured.
British Love him or hate him, Murray’s profile skyrocketed.
Serena nabs ninth Grand Slam title with thrilling Open victory.
Serena ends magical U.S. Open with championship and No. 1 ranking.
Jankovic relishes Grand moment — maybe too much.
More questions than answers coming off the Slam season. (ESPN)