Justine Henin and Marat Safin Elected for Induction in the International Tennis Hall of Fame

Ironic that the most visually appealing and unappealing tennis players of all time would get the nod at the same time.

Justine Henin, whose one-handed backhand was as beautiful as her personality was ugly, won seven Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal and helped Belgium win its first Fed Cup championship. She spent 117 weeks ranked No. 1 and finished the 2003, 2006 and 2007 seasons in the top spot. She won four French Opens, two U.S. Opens and one Australian Open despite her small frame in a game increasingly dominated by "Big Babe" tennis. Marat Safin, one of the hottest men and biggest whack-jobs to ever play the game, won two major titles -- the 2000 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian Open -- and briefly reached No. 1. He is the first Russian elected to the Hall of Fame. These days he's a member of Russian Parliament helping to abuse gay people as a member of Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party. (Sigh.)

Justine Henin:

"It's a big honor. I was five years old when I started playing tennis and my dream was to become a champion. All of the things that then happened- all the dreams that came true, all the victories and Grand Slams, and every emotion that I lived in my tennis career remains something very important in my life today. Being part of the Hall of Fame says that it will remain something forever, and that is very special. I am really honored."

Marat Safin:

"I'm very happy to be inducted to the Hall of Fame. I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me and supported me throughout my tennis career. To be part of a Hall of Fame is every athlete's dream. I am really honored to be inducted and proud to represent Russian tennis alongside the greatest champions of tennis history."

Courting Disaster

40 Love: Christ [sic] Evert, Queens of the Past, still got the look

  With thanks to Dave, who pointed me to these often-hilarious photos from the WTA 40 Love Celebration during Middle Sunday of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Tracy Austin and Chris Evert don't look bad -- and even Tracy's former doubles partner Betty Stove looks OK given what she has to work with. But Justine Henin is a total drag (king), and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario looks straight out of the WTA calendars of old, when even the most feminine player in the world nearly ended up looking like a drag queen! See 'em all HERE.

You have herpes, sir.

Performing Saturdays at Escuelita?

Is She Opening for Yannick Noah?

How is it that two seemingly innocuous women from the most benign country on the map can both be so unbelievably annoying? First came word that Kim "I make Lindsay Davenport look like she's got killer instinct" Clijsters is -- YAWN -- returning to the game this summer after -- YAWN -- getting married and having a baby. (She just won her first comeback match against Michaella Krajicek at the Ordina Open in Rosmalen, Netherlands, which is great practice for folding to Serena at the U.S. Open when she's up 5-1 in the third.) Now -- as if Kim's return weren't annoying enough -- my brother informs me that Justine Henin, one of the most infuriating people to ever set foot on the court, has apparently launched a singing(!) career. Note to Kim and Justine: Why can't you follow in the footsteps of many great European players before you (See: Bunge, Bettina ; Jausovec, Mima; Maleevas, The) and just go away? ...

 

"I am ze greatest singer in zee world!"

The Stepford Sharapova Wives

Maria Sharapova poses with her look-alikes at the Cannon Powershot booth at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Calif. As frightening as this is, just be grateful there wasn't a Justine Henin look-alike photo-op in conjunction with her Valtrex ad campaign.