Williams, Kuznetsova Henin's biggest challengers in Paris

The players that pose the biggest threat to the 2003, 2005, and 2006 French Open winner, Justine Henin, are Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The American, who won Roland Garros in 2002, hasn't played much, but if she is fit and healthy, she can achieve everything. Serena has proved many times that she is a true champion. By winning this year's Australian Open, when only few people believed in her, she showed that we can still expect some great results from her. What we can say without a doubt is that Serena is entering the French Open with confidence.

The other candidate to make problems to Henin is Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova. She defeated Henin in Berlin last week on clay. If she keeps her mental strength, world No. 3 can beat any player. She is fit, strong and moves well.

However, there are very few players that can challenge the Belgian in Paris. Amelie Mauresmo is struggling after a two-month break caused by her appendix operation, Maria Sharapova and Martina Hingis have both sustained injuries and are still not sure if they will play, Kim Clijsters has retired, while Venus Williams doesn't have much of a chance. (via ESPN)

Jankovic misses her chance to beat Henin

In Berlin quarterfinal Jelena Jankovic continued her tradition of winning the opening set against Justine Henin, and eventually coming out as a loser. So far, they have played five times, and four times Jelena won the first set; still, all the five times she lost the match!

In Saturday's quarterfinal Jelena was so close to victory — in the third set she had a 4-0 lead. Henin seemed disturbed, you could see her watching anxiously at her coach. However, she managed to recover and win six consecutive games to advance to the semis.

"I don't know how that could happen," said the Serbian.

"I thought I had everything under control and I am really upset, I was so close to beating her. It was slippery out there and I didn't feel safe on the court.

"But it was all my own mistake that I lost, I wasted all my chances to win." (Source: BBC Sport)

J&S Cup; Henin top-seeded

J&S Cup, which takes place in Warsaw from April 30, has Justine Henin of Belgium as its top seed.

As the first four seeds have a bye in the first round, Justine Henin plays her first match either on Wednesday or on Thursday against the winner of the match between Kaia Kanepi and Anna-Lena Groenefeld . Justine has played Anna-Lena Groenefeld once, at 2006 Roland Garros, and won in straight sets. Estonia's Kaia Kanepi and world No. 1 have never met so far.

If in the opening round everything goes according to Justine's plans, she will face Nadia Petrova in the quarterfinals, and then have a semifinal meeting with Jelena Jankovic or Anna Chakvetadze.

This is Henin's second time to play in Warsaw. Last time, in 2005, she came out as a winner defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. The defending champion this year is Justine's compatriot, Kim Clijsters, seeded second.

(source: Justine Henin's website)

Henin training to enter clay court season

Justine Henin has started training on clay court this week, and will continue to practice during the next two weeks.

Before Roland Garros, we will see her in the J&S Cup, starting April 30 in Warsaw, and in the Qatar German Open held in Berlin in early May. After these tournaments, the Queen of clay will have two weeks of intensive training to prepare for the French Open which she won in 2003, 2005, and 2006.

(source: Justine Henin's website)

Only Russia has top 10 players in first round of Fed Cup

Only three women from the top ten will take part in the first round of the Fed Cup — Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova and Anna Chakvetadze; they are all representatives of Russia.

Why won't the other highly ranked players compete in the Fed Cup?

  • Top-ranked Justine Henin of Belgium wants to have enough time to prepare for the clay-season, as well as to treat her breathing problems. Her next tournament will be Warsaw, starting April 30.
  • Maria Sharapova, Russia's highest-ranked player, won't make her Fed Cup debut because of injured shoulder and hamstring.
  • France's Amelie Mauresmo is recovering from her appendectomy.
  • Kim Clijsters, another Belgian top player, decided to skip the Fed Cup because of her busy schedule.
  • Countries of Martina Hingis (Switzerland), Nicole Vaidisova (the Czech Republic) and Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) are not in the World Group.

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