McIntyre Tennis

Poor Lindsay...

I just watched Lindsay Davenport's post-match interview with Mary Carillo and it was really hard to watch. You can tell she's holding back tears...oh god, I hope she's ok for the US Open! ETA: Read 'Injured Davenport hopes to be fit for US Open'

But congratulations to Justine Henin-Hardenne who played just gorgeous, gorgeous tennis. I know I've said it before--I can't completely dislike her, despite the poor sportsmanship in the past. She's just got too much game in that tiny frame. David vs. Goliath(s) indeed. So Justine wins it 6-0 1-0 Ret.

Who can stop her in NYC? Doubtful that anyone can.

Players Dropping Like Flies

The situation in Montreal is looking bad: right on the heels of Amelie Mauresmo's (shoulder) and Venus Williams' (wrist) withdrawals  yesterday, Justine Henin-Hardenne (knee) and Patty Schnyder also pulled out.

If Sharapova does well this week, she could pull out of the Rogers Cup after such a great 2 week run-- which would leave Clijsters, Hingis and Pierce as the big draws--and Pierce and Clijsters are at not 100% right now.

Here's Matt Cronin on this summer's and last summer's problems with pullouts.

Justine Injured; Sampras Hearts Pearl Jam

Justine Henin-Hardenne is out of the Acura Classic event which starts July 31, with a right knee injury. She'll be replaced by Tatiana Golovin.

Sampras in Connecticut: At one point before he served, the quiet Sampras drew laughter from the crowd when a Pearl Jam song was briefly played on the PA system. He stopped his toss and said to the soundman, "That’s the best thing you played all night." Read 'Sampras Takes on the FoxForce' .

Justine v. Belgium: All Out War?

Henin-Hardenne may boycott the Fed Cup Final. Here's the story.

ETA: Bodo on the 'Belgian Beyonce'

Henin-Hardenne Leaves Fed Cup Hanging

Justine Henin-Hardenne pulled out of Belgium's Fed Cup tie against the US team yeserday. "Justine doesn't feel the freshness that will be required in her attacking game to be on court," she said through her website.

Justine has played an exhaustive stretch of tennis over the past few months...but, come on, one week is not enough to recuperate and play 2 home matches (or even just one) for your country--against Jamea Jackson and/or Jill Craybas? 

Well, you can be sure the henin-hardenne hate is flowing. But I guess this is an opening for the neophyte American team, which is also lacking the top American women. Here's the Fed Cup tie info.

Amelie did it! She did it!

What a spectacular win! Who else is in tears for amelie (I mean besides momofan ;-))?

Here's Wimbledon's match summary. Here's the BBC's wrap up, with post-match video interviews.

ETA: No More Talk about Amelie's Nerves / Amelie's interview / Justine's interview / Exorcising demons of doubt (don't miss the video of Amelie's press conference, etc. here; thanks, momofan!).

Here's what President Jacques Chirac had to say to Amelie: "Bravo! It was magnificent! What a performance, and what elegance!"

I love the French!

Justine v. Amelie: We're Getting a Rematch!

Like momofan, I'm bouncing off the walls re: Mauresmo finally making it through the semis. And how thrilling to have an Australian Open rematch (maybe the first of 2?) after all of the controversy with Justine's retirement. With two such complete players in the final, it should be a spectacular match. That is assuming, of course, that Mauresmo and Henin-Hardenne can both keep their stomachs together.

Mauresmo d. Sharapova 6-3 3-6 6-2
Amelie dominated Maria, and could have taken her out 6-1 in the second (she had Sharapova 0-40 to go up 2 breaks and choked on the breakpoints) if she had held her nerve. Of course, she didn't--but no matter. She came out steely after a bathroom break to go up 4-0 in the 3rd. Just gorgeous tennis for the most part from Amelie.

Here are a match report / Sharapova's interview / Mauresmo's interview.

Henin-Hardenne d. Clijsters 6-4 7-6(4)
Did anyone doubt this outcome? Didn't think so.

Here are a match report / Clijster's interview / Henin-Hardenne's interview.

ETA: Here's the NY Times on Amelie-Justine.

Wimbledon: Women's Semis

Mauresmo(1) v. Sharapova(4)
It'll be interesting to see how Amelie's agility, variety and old school net play match up with Sharapova's Power Shots. It'll be even more interesting to see how Mauresmo's nerves contend with Sharapova's Iron Will. I think it'll either be really close, or a steamroll by Maria.

Clijsters(2) v. Henin-Hardenne(3)
I really just can't see Clijsters pulling this one out after her dismal display at Roland Garros. Even if Kim does come out to play, I'd still say Justine, easily. Granted, I'd pick Justine if she and Kim met in a back alley knife fight, too.  Hell, I'd pick Justine in a back alley knife fight against most people. Yeah, she's hard to like, but the girl is tough.

Here's the BBC on the match ups and a couple of articles below.

The Women's Semis: Article Round Up

Mauresmo exudes air of calm as she awaits Sharapova showdown
Few players are as honest about their shortcomings as Amélie Mauresmo. After sealing a place in the last four of Wimbledon with a scrappy 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Anastasia Myskina yesterday, she cheerfully admitted to being both nervous and impatient against the talented Russian. Read 'Mauresmo's calm'

Belgian show of fire and ice hits the lawns for first time
There are rivals who embrace with affection and others who put their arms round one another in the manner of Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty on the Reichenbach Falls before their grapple took them over the edge to their presumed deaths.

Somewhere in between come the Belgians Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters. Read 'Belgian Show'

Justine Henin Hardenne: A History

Sports Illustrated has a really good profile, of Justine, with an in depth look at her history of poor sportsmanship, her and Amelie's thoughts on the Mauresmo Affair, and her break from her family.

Hard to Figure: Henin-Hardenne Inspires Contradictory Emotions

ETA: After reading that, I wanted a closer look at Justine's history; so here's a fansite bio. Yes, it does lean Justine's way, but I didn't realize just how tough it's been for her, even after her mom's lost battle with cancer. Her family didn't even come to her wedding...that's really sad.

*picture from http://justinehenin.tk/