Serena v Henin: 2010 Australian Open Final Preview

The Dream Final for Australian Open organizers will be contested on Saturday when world No. 1 Serena Williams, coming off her lineswoman meltdown loss at her most recent Slam, the US Open, faces a player who hasn’t competed in a Slam since the 2008 Australian Open, comeback queen and former No. 1 Justine Henin.
ADHEREL
“It’s more than a dream for me,” Henin told the media on Friday. “The challenge of facing the No. 1 player in the world is magnificent.”

Serena has 11 Slam titles, Henin seven. Serena leads their career match-ups 7-6, but Henin leads 4-2 in Slam meetings.

“We both want it,” Serena said. “But we’ll just see who’s playing better tomorrow…It will be a defining match for both of us. It definitely will be mental and [about] who wants the title more and who’s willing to go the extra step.”

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.”

Henin has won their three most recent meetings in Slams, all in 2007 and all in the quarterfinals at the French, Wimbledon and the US Open.

“I definitely think of her as a rival,” Serena said. “I think we bring out the best game in each other. I think that we both just play our hearts out. I think that’s what creates a good rivalry.”

FINALS FACTBOX

Serena Williams (USA)
A.O. career W-L: 50-6
A.O. record in finals: 4-0
Career in Slam finals: 10-3
Career singles titles: 35
Turned pro: 1995

Justine Henin (BEL)
A.O. career W-L: 36-6
A.O. record in finals: 1-1
Career in Slam finals: 7-4
Career singles titles: 41
Turned pro: 1999 (20-month retirement in 2008-09)