Where did wildcard Justine Henin land? In the third quarter, opening against Slovak Maggie Rybarikova. Also in her path: No. 31 Gisela Dulko, No. 5 Radwanska, No. 11 Bartoli, then probably No. 4 Dementieva to reach the semis. Radwanska will have a tough opener against either Anna Chakvetadze or Anne Keothavong after a bye.

SITTING OUT — Rafael Nadal has been advised to sit out a month [or more] to settle the flaming tendinitis in his knee that forced him to retire during the Australian Open. Tests also showed a small tear at the back part of Nadal’s right knee, and shorts creeping up his ass.

“Of course disappointed, when you lose in the final of a Grand Slam, especially in three sets, and I got a few opportunities that I haven’t been able to take,” Henin said.

Sean Randall makes his selection for the Serena Williams, Justine Henin Australian Open final.

The pair have some history, most notably the “talk to the hand” incident at the 2003 French Open, where the Belgian held up her hand during one of Serena’s first serves, but the chair umpire did not let the American replay the point, and Henin denied any wrongdoing. Henin subsequently won in a three-set grinder, and Serena was left a crying mess in her post-match conference, accusing the Belgian of “cheating, lying and fabricating.”

Who will win the Roger Federer v. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga match at the Australian Open today? Sean Randall makes his pick.

World No. 1 Serena Williams and Justine Henin will meet in the Australian Open women’s final on Saturday.

Sean Randall gives his picks on semifinal Thursday at the Australian Open.

The Williams sisters were also forced to battle through the women’s doubles quarterfinals, defeating No. 8 seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the U.S. and China’s Zi Yan 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Credit to Andy Roddick for hanging in long enough to allow a red-hot Fernando Gonzalez self destruct.