Why does Justine Henin get a free pass?

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..

I don't quite agree with your argument that commentators and analysts never mentioned this. Henin was criticized during her AO performance at least in the US. Either you took a bathroom break or both of us were watching the same game with different commentators, Pam Shriver, was definitely one of them and it was only right that she called upon that incident.

She was going to pull out of the Australian open before-hand because she was ill but she was persuaded to go on the court and at least try so she did and but felt worse and worse and just couldn't continue. And i believe she was carrying an injury even before that final fed cup match because when she played her fed cup singles match against schiavone which she won 6-4 7-5 she said if she hadn't won it in 2 sets that she probably wouldn't have been able to complete the match and i believe that she further injured herself in the doubles match and she then had to retire. She has come back from the brink in so many matches like 1-5 down final set against myskina in Olympics, 2-5 down final set against capriati in 03 us open, 1-5 down final set against razzano in Miami this year and i think that if she wasn't injured and in a lot of pain she would have carried on. And just because she wasn't limping around the court in tears and being over dramatic like some other players are doesn't mean she wasn't injured and in a lot of pain.

yeah withdrawing from a grand slam final is something. that was just silly. but she's got a really sweet personality (she's never said anything conroversial, always safe and proper) in interviews so i don't think people view her as a *****. her actions would say she's no angel. but she's had a hard time off the court with personal issues so people would feel bad critsizing her.

People always seem to forget that Tennis is one of the only sports that you basically have to support yourself. other sports when they get injured the "team" foots the bills and they can afford to get you the best treatment so you can get back to your game. In tennis if something goes wrong with your body you are SCREWED!!!!! no one will help you. You will lose your sponsors and endorsements. Shoot I wouldn't play if I had the hiccups let alone a ulcer. Give the girl a break.

I completely agree,

Henin never gets crap for everything that she has done wrong while other players get all of the crap. People seem to worship her because of her style of play, which is federer like, but she's also a nasty nasty person and a bad sport.