Justine Henin Tells TENNIS Magazine "I'm not calculating"

June Issue Offers French Open Preview & The Total Tennis Workout

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05/17/06 - The number one singles player on the WTA tour, Justine Henin of Belgium, has made tennis her life and methodically distanced herself from peers, fans and even her family along the way, according to the June issue of TENNIS Magazine. Now she is reassessing what the game means to her.
“I’m not calculating,” Henin, 25, tells TENNIS writer Bruce Schoenfeld. “I’m fragile in some ways and strong in some ways, and I just want to try to be myself on and off the court. I’m going to try to be a little more open now in the next few months and see what happens. If people like me a little more or a little less, I’m not affected. I just want to be happy myself.”
There have been numerous incidents throughout her career which have affected her reputation. The most famous occurred at the 2006 Australian Open where, four games from losing a straight-set final to Amélie Mauresmo, Henin retired, stating she had severe stomach pain. “In my opinion, it will be something that she’ll never be able to live down,” Rennae Stubbs, a 21-year-veteran of the tour tells TENNIS. “Deep down, part of her probably couldn’t accept losing the match. Stopping was an easier way of dealing with the pain. That way…she can walk off the court and say, ‘It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t at my best’”
In 2003, after Henin lost a first set to Kim Clijsters in San Diego, she then called an injury timeout and won the next two. “She has probably done that in every match I’ve ever played against her,” Clijsters tells the magazine. “It’s a matter of knowing whether she’s doing it for an injury, or another reason.
“There have been some amazing competitors who wanted to win at all costs, but wouldn’t cross over the sportsmanship line,” says Pam Shriver, who concedes she feels disappointed by Henin’s actions.
Henin admits, “I made some mistakes. I never lied about injuries or this kind of thing, and when a player is better than me on that day, I can realize it and say it. But it’s true that I’m different than the other players. I always look out for my own confidence. I’m very intense. And sometimes that can be hard for people to understand, especially since I don’t have such great communication with the press or the fans.”
Henin remains unknowable amongst her peers as well, including Martina Hingis, who tells TENNIS, “She only has a few friends. Maybe she thinks they’re her real friends. I don’t know.”
Recently separated from her husband of four years Pierre-Yves Hardenne, Henin has begun to realize that winning isn’t enough to give her happiness. “If you win a Grand Slam, what’s the sense if you’re alone? The good part is sharing the moment with the people around you. That’s what you’ll remember in the end.”

French Open Preview & Predictions
As the pros gather in Paris for the world championships of clay, there will be one topic on everyone’s mind: Can Roger Federer finally win it? Tennis explores the possibilities and talks with Mats Wilander, Jim Courier and Pete Sampras for their opinions on the matter. Justine Henin is the two-time defending champion, but all eyes will be on Australian Open winner Serena Williams. TENNIS predicts Henin will best Williams, who will leave the court as a runner-up.

The Total Tennis Workout
So you can build big muscles and run a fast 40. But can you play tennis? TENNIS consulted top fitness experts, Dana Sullivan, Cary Barbor and Sarah Unke to help design an exercise program to work all the main areas you need for tennis: a warm-up to get you going and help you avoid injury; strength training so you can muscle balls all over the court; cardio to get you through long matches; drills that mimic on-court movement to sharpen your reflexes; and a cool-down that will help you increase your flexibility. The six-page guide includes illustrations, explanations, gear and tips that will get anybody tennis ready.

About Miller Publishing Group: MPG publishes TENNIS Magazine, SMASH. Magazine and the photo annual The Year in Pictures. TENNIS, published 10 times annually, is the world’s largest tennis title, with a circulation of more than 600,000. MPG also owns TENNIS.com, the world’s leading tennis website, plus SMASHtennis.com and the blog Peter Bodo’s TennisWorld(peterbodostennisworld.com).

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