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Henin-Hardenne says players don't like her rise
Matthew Cronin |
August 04, 2003 11:19 IST
World number three Justine Henin-Hardenne is making a strong run to the top of the rankings and the diminutive Belgian says the taller elite players do not like it. "I think all these players don't like it I'm not so strong and tall and am not the same looking players as them," she said after beating compatriot Kim Clijsters 3-6 6-2 6-3 in the final of the $1 million Acura Classic on Sunday.
"They don't like to see me running all over the court and having power, too. Mentally, it's hard for them to compete against me."
Henin-Hardenne's comments came after Clijsters suggested that an injury timeout she took between the first and second sets to treat a blister on her right foot may have been more of a mental timeout.
"I'm sort of getting used to it," Clijsters told reporters. "She's done it in every match I've played against her.
"It's a matter of knowing if she's doing it for an injury or another reason. It didn't look like it was hurting because she was still running.
"Those are moments that she's not feeling her best and she has to try to do different things. It's to her credit that she can turn matches around like that."
Henin-Hardenne was also involved in a controversial match against Serena Williams in the French Open semi-finals earlier this year.
The world number one accused her of gamesmanship in the third set when the Belgian failed to give her another serve after Henin-Hardenne held her hand up and Williams faulted.
Henin-Hardenne denied Clijsters's accusations, saying her Fed Cup team mate's comments were no more than sour grapes.
"She's disappointed that she lost today, that's the only reason she's saying this," Henin said.
"I don't know why all the players are talking about the incidents in my matches because I think I'm a fair player. She said it because she lost the match. I totally understand it.
"I just had to change the tape because the blister was burning. It had nothing to do with the mental part of the match."
The 21-year-old Henin-Hardenne has been working diligently on her fitness with trainer Pat Etcheberry over the last 10 months and credits him for making her stronger.
She is also a harder player mentally, which she said was the reason for her five titles this year.