Little Dwarf Loser is Unrepentant (article)

[Nalbandian]

Henin-Hardenne brushes of criticism

30 January 2006

BRUSSELS — Belgian tennis ace Justine Henin-Hardenne attracted widespread international media criticism over the weekend for failing to finish her Australian Open final against Amélie Mauresmo.

Trailing trailed 6-1, 2-0 in Melbourne on Saturday night, Henin-Hardenne played just two points of the ninth game before she walked forward, leant on the net and — through tears — said she could not go on.

The reason: Henin-Hardenne's stomach had reacted badly to anti-inflammatory medication she'd been taking for a week to help cure a shoulder problem.

And amid the cries of “unprofessional”, Henin-Hardenne just sat there weeping, eventually admitting: "Everyone has a right to think that [I should have finished the match]".

"But it's my health. I just have to think about myself right now. It's me that was feeling the bad way I was. I don't care what these people would say," she added.

It is important also to note that coach Carlos Rodriguez had wanted Henin-Hardenne to quit midway through the first set.

And amid the anti-climax was also the first Grand Slam victory for Frenchwoman Mauresmo, who played superbly in the first nine games of the final as she worked towards a magical achievement.

 

[The tennis guy]

It is important also to note that coach Carlos Rodriguez had wanted Henin-Hardenne to quit midway through the first set.

Since her coach wanted her to quit because he must know how bad she was feeling before the match, maybe she should quit after all. It is her health. I was disappointed she didn't finish the match at the time, now I actually changed my mind.

Regardless what you say of her, she is a 4 times grand slam champion!

 

[Keifers]

Isn't this article just re-stating what JHH said in her post-match interview?

There's no new statement by JHH, is there?

 

[rilokiley]

There's no new statement by JHH, is there?

No.

[Edit]
I mean, yes, there's no new statement by JHH. :\

 

[Applez]

"It is important also to note that coach Carlos Rodriguez had wanted Henin-Hardenne to quit midway through the first set."

I don't think this statement is true It was quite obvious during the match that it was HER decision to quit

This Belgian article was written to protect Henin's tarnished image

 

[Max G.]

Well, given what we know of Henin, I would not be surprised at all if she had been receiving discreet coaching or advice from her coach during the match, though that's against the rules too...

 

[Applez]

Well, given what we know of Henin, I would not be surprised at all if she had been receiving discreet coaching or advice from her coach during the match, though that's against the rules too...

Interesting point

But either way it's a lose-lose situation for her

 

[Rataplan]

This Belgian article was written to protect Henin's tarnish image

Firstly, I think that some of you guys are overdoing it with the bashing of Henin. Granted, she deserves criticism but some of it is exaggerated IMO.

Secondly, the Belgian press (or at least, the Belgian sources I have seen) did not spare her or try to protect her tarnished image.

 

[Deuce]

Well, given what we know of Henin, I would not be surprised at all if she had been receiving discreet coaching or advice from her coach during the match, though that's against the rules too...

Come on, Max... 99% of all pro players receive "discreet coaching or advice" from a coach during the match.

 

[The tennis guy]

Come on, Max... 99% of all pro players receive "discreet coaching or advice" from a coach during the match.

However, only JHH needs to be criticize for it.

More and more people lose objectivity these days. More and more people are cranky - I don't know if it is the time we live in or what. They either love someone or bash someone.

 

[MonkeyPox]

I love Justine, or at least I did. Now, I just think she's a great player and sometimes competitor. She's just wrong in this situation, but I don't see how she can get out of it. Telling more lies isn't a good start though. As the commentators said, her coach (and Justine for that matter) said prior to the match that she was healthier than she has been in two years. She really can't backtrack on that now and say she was deathly ill. It is just not true one way or another, so her credibility is shot. She needs to figure out a way to somehow eat crow on this issue, and in a big way, or it will dog her the rest of her career, no matter how well she does.

 

[rlbjr]

HH may just be one of those narcissistic individuals to whom no thought or opinion matters but their own. It's always about Justine, no matter who it is really about. But enough about Justine, let's talk about Justine...

 

[Donnie Darko]

Since her coach wanted her to quit because he must know how bad she was feeling before the match, maybe she should quit after all.

Her coach said that after the match. It's just a case of him backing his player up. What do you think he's gonna say...........that he was surprised she quit and that she should have stuck it out? He'd have had a pink slip by the end of the day.

 

[Zverev]

Her coach said that after the match. It's just a case of him backing his player up. What do you think he's gonna say...........that he was surprised she quit and that she should have stuck it out? He'd have had a pink slip by the end of the day.

And how would he know how she felt during the first set?
Did you see or hear them talking to each other?
Just more lies...

 

[tennissavy]

I have a problem with that article. Henin did not weep when she forfeited the match and did not cry during the interview. I saw the match and I saw the interview- no weeping.

 

[Max G.]

I have a problem with that article. Henin did not weep when she forfeited the match and did not cry during the interview. I saw the match and I saw the interview- no weeping.

 

[rfprse]

About her crying during interview, I think she cried when answering questions in French after the English interview was over.

 

[Lee]

Justine is a horrible, horrible actress. Come on, if you want to cry, cry your heart out. She can't even fake the tears, *sigh*

 

[bc-05]

can we complain about michaella krajicek and clijsters too please?

 

[tennissavy]

Justine is a horrible, horrible actress. Come on, if you want to cry, cry your heart out. She can't even fake the tears, *sigh*

Thank You. No tears from Henin. The face in the towel doesn't mean a thing. We never saw a tear.

 

[vllockhart]

Can we shut up about this already?