Justine Henin disputes doping rumors

Justine Henin has recently announced her retirement, and is now challenging doping rumors.

In a farewell press conference, the newly-retired former World No. 1 from Belgium rued her bad luck and confronted those who spread rumors of her allegedly doping.

Schiavone outlasts Kuznetsova in record-setting match

French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy, out dueled her Russian friend, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the longest women’s singles match in Grand Slam history, winning 6-4, 1-6, 16-14.

The 30-game 3rd set alone took exactly three hours. The first two sets lasted 51 and 53 minutes for a total match time of 4 hours, 44 minutes.

After destroying last year’s finalist, Justine Henin, in straight sets in the third round, Kuznetsova should have been filled with confidence coming in against veteran Schiavone, who has never made it past the fourth round in Melbourne. But it was Schiavone who took Kuznetsova by surprise in the opening set.

Kuznetsova upsets Henin at Australian Open

The 23rd seed Svetlana Kuznetsova upset No. 11 seeded Justine Henin in round three of the 2011 Australian Open in Melbourne. Svetlana took the match in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6(8).

After taking the first set, Svetlana twice served for the match. Justine broke both times sending the 2nd set to a tie-break. After several lead changes, set points for Justine and match points for Svetlana, Svetlana finally pulled out the upset at 10-8.

Justine reached the final of the Australian Open in 2010, her first Grand Slam after coming out of retirement. Now, just a year later, she suffered her worst run at a Grand Slam event since Wimbledon in 2005 when she lost in the 1st round.

Henin, Clijsters might play doubles together at the 2012 London Olympics

Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters are exploring the possibility of playing doubles together at the 2012 London Olympics.

The two comeback kids from Belgium said at a press conference on Thursday that they are open to the idea but need to overcome scheduling difficulties. Both reached the No. 1 ranking before retiring and making comebacks. Clijsters is currently ranked No. 3, while Henin has dropped to No. 12 due to being sidelined with an injury the last part of last season.

They teamed up once before, losing in doubles to Russia in the 2006 Fed Cup quarterfinals.

Serena Williams pulls out of 2010 U.S. Open

World No. 1 Serena Williams will miss the 2010 U.S. Open due to injury.

On the advice of her doctors, top-ranked tennis star Serena Williams withdrew from the U.S. Open on Friday. The 28-year-old champion, who is still recovering from recent foot surgery, said in a written statement that she was pulling out of the tournament “with much frustration and deep sadness.”

Justine Henin calls it quits for 2010

Justine Henin has announced that she will miss the rest of the 2010 season as she recovers from an elbow injury.

The No. 14th ranked player from Belgium injured her elbow at Wimbledon in July, and said on her website she will not be able to practice again until October.

Henin, a seven-rime Grand Slam winner, returned to tennis at the beginning of this season after 18 months in retirement. She reached the final in her first two tournaments, including the Australian Open, and won titles in Stuttgart and Den Bosch.

Henin will miss U.S. Open due to partial ligament tear

Justine Henin, seven-time Grand Slam champion, and two-time U.S. Open champion, will miss the U.S. Open this year due to a partially torn ligament in her right elbow.

The injury came as the result of a fall in the 1st set of her 4th-round match on Monday against countrywoman Kim Clijsters. Justine went on to win that first set, but Kim won the final two sets. Score: 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Henin said on her website Thursday that the injury will keep her off the tour for about two months. She said she will miss the American hard-court circuit, including the U.S. Open, which she won in 2003 and 2007. The year’s last major tournament begins in New York on Aug. 30.

Clijsters advances to Quarterfinals with win over Henin

In a 4th round battle of Belgian countrywomen seeking their first Wimbledon championship, No. 8 seed, Kim Clijsters advanced to keep her hopes alive winning over No. 17 seed, Justine Henin 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 at Wimbledon 2010.

Kim had to fight back from down a set. She won the 2nd set, then made a decisive break in the eighth game of the final set after Justine overhit a forehand, then served out the match. Justine received treatment on her elbow after injuring a tendon when she fell while lunging for a shot early in the first set.

Venus Williams cruises into 4th round

Five-time Wimbledon champion, and current World No. 2, Venus Williams, advanced to the 4th round of Wimbledon 2010 without really being challenged.

Her victims have been , 6-3, 6-2, Ekaterina Makarova, 6-0, 6-4, Alisa Kleybanova, 6-4, 6-2.

Venus’ next opponent will be No. 92 ranked Jarmila Groth.

Venus has had a rather easy draw. Looking ahead if she wins her next two matches, she could face Jelena Jankovic, Kim Clijsters, or Justine Henin in the semifinals.

Henin advances to face Clijsters at Wimbledon

Former World No. 1, Justine Henin of Belgium, advanced Friday to the 4th round at Wimbledon 2010, by defeating No. 13 seed, Nadia Petrova of Russia, 6-1, 6-4. Nadia had no answer for Justine’s powerful on-target backhands and improved serve.

In the 4th round on Monday, 27-year-old Justine will play her compatriot, this year’s champ at Miami and the last year’s U.S. Open champion, 26-year-old No. 8 seed and former World No. 1, Kim Clijsters. Justine and Kim are tied at 12-12 in career matches. Kim has won the last two times they have played. In the final at Brisbane last January, Kim defeated Justine 6-3 4-6 7-6(6). And in the semifinals at Miami in March, Kim won again, 6-2, 6-7(3), 7-6(6).