As expected, Justine Henin -- who made a "definite decision" to retire last year -- announced yesterday that she would return to the professional game in 2010. While many think this, along with the triumphant return of countrywoman Kim Clijsters, is good news for the sport, to me it only magnifies just how little depth there is in women's tennis. For Clijsters to be able to win a Grand Slam event in her third tournament back after more than two years ago while John McEnroe missed just six months in 1986 and never even came close to winning anoter major speaks volumes. What's more, the LAST thing the WTA needs is another top player who is only interested in playing when it suits her agenda. Sure, Kim paid her dues back in her "No. 1 without a major" days, but do we really need another who only shows up when a major is on the line? Something tells me this time around, Justine too will be operating under the Williams School of Time Management.Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Time to Renew Your Valtrex
As expected, Justine Henin -- who made a "definite decision" to retire last year -- announced yesterday that she would return to the professional game in 2010. While many think this, along with the triumphant return of countrywoman Kim Clijsters, is good news for the sport, to me it only magnifies just how little depth there is in women's tennis. For Clijsters to be able to win a Grand Slam event in her third tournament back after more than two years ago while John McEnroe missed just six months in 1986 and never even came close to winning anoter major speaks volumes. What's more, the LAST thing the WTA needs is another top player who is only interested in playing when it suits her agenda. Sure, Kim paid her dues back in her "No. 1 without a major" days, but do we really need another who only shows up when a major is on the line? Something tells me this time around, Justine too will be operating under the Williams School of Time Management.
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8 comments:
She's just so gross. Wish I could like her, because she plays great tennis.
I find these temporary retirements very annoying. Why can't a player just admit, "I need a break. I'll be back when my injuries heal and I feel mentally fresh"?
As with Jennifer Capriati in her comeback at the start of the decade, if you can hit big and through the court on the women’s tour, you always have a chance. Kim Clijsters can do that, and she can move with a gymnast’s sure-footedness, which is why her comeback has been so successful. It's certainly not news that there's a lack of competition and leadership on the women's tour these days, so we should all be rejoicing that two former number 1s and grand slam champions are returning to the mix. Maybe you should try looking at the bright side, for once...
I love your blog, but why are you so hard on women in tennis?
The best cure for the lack of depth in women's tennis is....more depth in women's tennis. So this is a great thing in my book. Henin is a wily all-court player, and the game will only benefit from her return.
How long does it take for evidence of steroids to go away?
Ok...where to begin?
You know I really love your blog, except when you write about women's tennis. It's just overflowing with hate, rarely based in fact and tinged with far too much nostalgia for a time when former women players were nowhere near as deep as you claim.
The Valtrex title is just juvenile and straight out of Boys in the Band. It's unnecessary.
Regarding your criticisms about depth, you can't have it both ways. Either you want more players who have the mental strength to compete with Serena and Venus or you don't. It's not about talent or training. It's all in the head. Venus and Serena win most matches before they take the court. Regardless of how you feel about her personality, Henin was never afraid of the Williams sisters like most of the women playing today.
As you have correctly noted in the past, that's more than half the battle. Besides that fact, Henin and, to a lesser extent, Clijsters are far more complete players than most of the top 10 and in many ways the Venus and Serena. That's a good thing because it encourages future stars to approach winning from more than one direction. Another point is that the lesser players will likely feel more confident challenging Venus and Serena with others bearing the pressure as chief challengers. As an example, Jankovic actually has respectable head to head with both Venus and Serena, but hasn't beaten them much since the Belgians retired.
As far as Henin's commitment to playing, you are just flat wrong on the facts. Playing too little was never her problem. Playing too much and over-training is what made her sick, twice, in the first place. Like her or not, the rash of mono like illnesses among the men the last few years validates her medical history.
Comparing her to Serena's half-assed scheduling is invalid because Henin won regularly at both the tour level and the majors, that's why she is ranked 5th all time on the list of weeks at no.1 with three year end finishes in five years. Also, she still has more total titles than Serena. There's a difference between spreading your schedule throughout the year to maximize performance at the most possible events and scheduling only to win majors. By that measure her scheduling shares more with Federer than Serena.
Besides, Serena's ranking would not be an issue if she performed with half the consistency at tour event that Henin did. Clijsters fell more into the Safina/Jankovic mold but with far greater quality.
I can understand if you don't like her for matters of personality, but you should be more fair in evaluating her play that you have been.
OK, obviously James needs a Valtrex or something to take the edge off. Step back from the ledge!
Christ almighty! Why doesn't this woman just fade away into the tennis hall of fame instead of blighting us with her ridiculous horse teeth? I detest her.
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