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Wimbledon-Williams sisters face Belgian challenge
London, June 20: They could hardly be more different but to most observers they have become simply ``the Belgian sisters``.
London, June 20: They could hardly be more different but to
most observers they have become simply ''the Belgian sisters''.
They speak different languages and adopt different styles but Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne are united not only by a flag but by a common desire -- to thwart the mighty Williams sisters on the grand-slam stage. At Wimbledon, which starts on monday, the showdown promises to be enthralling. Clijsters is seeded second for the grasscourt grand slam, in the bottom half of the draw with fourth seed Venus Williams, the elder of the two genuine sisters.
Henin-Hardenne is seeded third, tucked high up in champion Serena's half. The machinations of the draw mean another all-Williams final is possible.
Or a second successive all-Belgian grand slam showpiece.
The Belgians smashed apart the phenomenal Williams stranglehold on the slams in Paris earlier this month when Henin-Hardenne beat Clijsters in the final of the French Open.
It marked the first grand slam final not contested by Americans Venus and Serena Williams for more than a year.
Henin-Hardenne's semi-final victory over Serena was the world number one's first defeat in a slam since she lost to Venus in the 2001 U.S. Open final.
It was a defeat which shattered their invincibility, gave hope to others and boosted the sport.
''I think it's good that you have a different final'', Henin-Hardenne said after that Paris victory. ''It's good to see different players. I think it's good for women's tennis.
''(Serena) has had lots of chances recently. It's about time she gave others a chance.''.
No mistaking the sentiment, then.
Clijsters was equally thrilled when she beat the younger Williams sister in the final of the WTA tour championships last year.
At the start of this year she said she felt she had found the ''magic formula'' to beating the sisters. ''It is just a matter of being a little more consistent...I think I am capable of doing it''.
But it will take more than consistency to wrest the title from Serena and she is not ready to roll over just yet.
After Paris she returned home to Florida. Since then she has been travelling down the coast to Miami to play on grass courts there and has been pleased with how her serve has clicked back into gear.
''The serve has been marvellous, I'm really excited about it'', she said last week in a teleconference from her west Palm Beach home.
''I served so badly in Paris. I was upset because in many ways I beat myself serving like that. It wasn't good enough''.
You can be sure it will be cranked up and good enough in time for next week.
After the top four women, the opposition tails off, consisting of a number of long-shots
In truth it is hard to see who is capable of beating the quartet currently head-and-shoulders above everybody else.
Jennifer Capriati is struggling to regain the form of two years ago, Lindsay Davenport still seems to be off the pace. Amelie Mauresmo is a little fragile mentally and Daniela Hantuchova appears too physically frail.
The title will likely go to one of the top four but which one is anybody's guess
Bureau Report
They speak different languages and adopt different styles but Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne are united not only by a flag but by a common desire -- to thwart the mighty Williams sisters on the grand-slam stage. At Wimbledon, which starts on monday, the showdown promises to be enthralling. Clijsters is seeded second for the grasscourt grand slam, in the bottom half of the draw with fourth seed Venus Williams, the elder of the two genuine sisters.
Henin-Hardenne is seeded third, tucked high up in champion Serena's half. The machinations of the draw mean another all-Williams final is possible.
Or a second successive all-Belgian grand slam showpiece.
The Belgians smashed apart the phenomenal Williams stranglehold on the slams in Paris earlier this month when Henin-Hardenne beat Clijsters in the final of the French Open.
It marked the first grand slam final not contested by Americans Venus and Serena Williams for more than a year.
Henin-Hardenne's semi-final victory over Serena was the world number one's first defeat in a slam since she lost to Venus in the 2001 U.S. Open final.
It was a defeat which shattered their invincibility, gave hope to others and boosted the sport.
''I think it's good that you have a different final'', Henin-Hardenne said after that Paris victory. ''It's good to see different players. I think it's good for women's tennis.
''(Serena) has had lots of chances recently. It's about time she gave others a chance.''.
No mistaking the sentiment, then.
Clijsters was equally thrilled when she beat the younger Williams sister in the final of the WTA tour championships last year.
At the start of this year she said she felt she had found the ''magic formula'' to beating the sisters. ''It is just a matter of being a little more consistent...I think I am capable of doing it''.
But it will take more than consistency to wrest the title from Serena and she is not ready to roll over just yet.
After Paris she returned home to Florida. Since then she has been travelling down the coast to Miami to play on grass courts there and has been pleased with how her serve has clicked back into gear.
''The serve has been marvellous, I'm really excited about it'', she said last week in a teleconference from her west Palm Beach home.
''I served so badly in Paris. I was upset because in many ways I beat myself serving like that. It wasn't good enough''.
You can be sure it will be cranked up and good enough in time for next week.
After the top four women, the opposition tails off, consisting of a number of long-shots
In truth it is hard to see who is capable of beating the quartet currently head-and-shoulders above everybody else.
Jennifer Capriati is struggling to regain the form of two years ago, Lindsay Davenport still seems to be off the pace. Amelie Mauresmo is a little fragile mentally and Daniela Hantuchova appears too physically frail.
The title will likely go to one of the top four but which one is anybody's guess
Bureau Report