Australian Open 2012 live stream

Serena Williams has long been renowned for her fighting spirit, but Justine Henin, her opponent in tonight’s final of the Australian Open women’s championship, hasn’t always been recognised similarly.

In the 2006 Open, both Kim Clijsters and her Belgian compatriot, Henin, defaulted to French player Amelie Mauresmo; Clijsters in a semi-final because of a sprained ankle, and Henin in the final because of illness.

Henin’s sudden departure from Rod Laver Arena shocked tennis fans. Most had no idea she was unwell, for she’d been reported as saying two days earlier she was in good health. She gave no signs of distress when the final got under way, serving vigorously and running to retrieve shots.

When Mauresmo led 6-1 2-0, however, Henin packed up her gear and walked off. She was said to be suffering from gastroenteritis.

The media gave Henin a hard time. Some suggested she’d pulled out because she was playing badly and didn’t want to concede a clear-cut victory to the popular Frenchwoman. They believed she should have continued playing for the sake of the fans and her opponent.

“Everyone has the right to think that, but it’s my health,” Henin retorted. “I just have to think about myself right now, because it’s only me on the court. It’s me that is feeling the bad way I was feeling. I don’t care about what these people would say.”

A few weeks later, she revealed to reporters in America that she had a stomach ulcer.

To have even attempted to play in her condition was, in retrospect, just another example of her resolute character.

Trengove’s Fearless Forecasts

S.Williams (1) v Henin

The record favours Williams, who has reached the final four times previously and gone on each time to win the title. Henin, who announced her retirement in May 2008 while ranked No. 1, won the title in 2004 and defaulted in that 2006 final. Williams seemed to be conserving her energy and sparing her legs as much as possible in her semi-final with Li Na. In contrast, Henin was her usual twinkle-toed self in routing Zheng Jie. Both Henin and Williams are instinctively aggressive and wonderful competitors with a great array of match-winning shots, but on this occasion, Henin looks the fitter and more mobile. nin in three.