You hear analysts say how much of a "warrior" she is. And how great a Champion she is.
There is no doubt she is a great player. She fully deserves her #1 ranking. But what she also is is a QUITTER.
She quit in the AO final against Mauresmo, because what?, her stomach hurt from taking too much Advil? A real champion would show some class and get beat 3 more games rather than tarnish another player's victory by defaulting.
And the FedCup final? The 3rd set of the deciding rubber? She just walks off? Ask Kirsten Flipkens, who played for her country first when Henin didn't play in the semi's vs. USA, then in the finals when Clijsters was hurt, what she thought of Henin quitting.
So why do the commentators/analysts or people here never mention this?
To me, those indicate that she's a selfish player. Both times, it did not seem like the injuries were critical. People talk about players that withdraw from tourneys, but never mention Henin? Why?
Jonboy242007-11-16T21:06:41Z
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I've been saying this about Henin for years, people hear what they want about her. While Henin is a very excelled and competent player I have never respected her since Roland Garros 2003 (duhh, I didn't raise my hand) and have always labeled her a cheater.Even beyond that she routinely retires during the AO claiming to be in pain but yet she stays for the award ceremony, yeah right. Or even beyond the usual instance once again AO final 2004 Kim scores on break point to go up 4-4, the ball is clearly in yet Justine screams up and down that it was out. People who like Justine make excuses for her because she is the timid little Belgian with a heart of gold and a very Federer-ish game when in all honesty thats a load of bullcrap she was dishonest in the past and she still is and will never be a respectable champion because of that.
This would be no competition at all. Federer would win 6-0, 6-0. I don't see how Henin could return any of Roger's serve at all. In fact I don't even believe that Henin can beat any top 100 men. I'm not being sexist or anything. The men are just so much stronger and Henin would not be able to handle ball at 130-145 mph. Most men are also so much taller than Henin.
Actually Henin was criticized a lot by the media for retiring from the Australian Open final against Mauresmo. However, she is also a great fighter, often coming back in matches when she seems out of it, so I think many people are quick to forgive her for that and give her the benefit of the doubt that she really must have been unable to finish that match. Personally, I felt she could and should have finished the match. I still have a grudge agianst her for cheating against Serena at the 2003 French Open, but then again I am no fan of Serena either. Neither of them are angels.
First of all I don't think we are in a position to criticize any top athlete that is out there. The pro athletes and Olympians had to work their asses off to get where they are at now, just like Justine Henin. Maybe she has acted selfish in some situation, but wouldn't we do the same? It's her job to play tennis and when her health is in danger, of course she stops, everyone would. She went through a lot of personal problems this season, but still grow strong in total. She is not a person that stops playing when she realises that she has no chance to win, because she never gives up. And when she loses, like in Wimbleton, she is saying honestly that her opponent has been just better that day. When you see her as a quitter, you probably have to call every athlete like this as well. She is a sweet person off-court and i think that is the most important point. People who dont know her, shouldnt judge her that easily. Thanks for listening ;)
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hey dude, i hear what u are saying and i see it for what it is... yes justine henin is somewhat of double edged sword... she has such determination but did some strange things at the wrong situations... in regards to her retiring the australian open final, apparently she was taking antiflammatorys for her shoulder it obviously upset her stomach causing somewhat of an ulcer... i think she was in alot of pain, and i think she quit because she feared she would do damage to herself... i really do not think she would retire in a final otherwise, .. and it was obvious something was wrong with her from the way she was playing..
Secondly her withdrawing from the fedcup finall..she had torn a ligamnent on somewhere on her leg, and she did not want to jeopardize her career just to try and win a fedcup match.... so yeah she looked like a quitter, maybe she was a bit selfish, because she looks out for her own interest, but sometimes you have to know when to pull out..
But outside of this, Justine henin is very dedicated to the sport, and she earns her rank.... all and all everyone has to give her alot of credit from where she came from..