Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin will play for Belgium against the United States in the Fed Cup next month.
The two former top-ranked players led Belgium to the title in 2001 but have rarely played together since. They'll be joined by 23rd-ranked Yanina Wickmayer and No. 78 Kirsten Flipkens.
The best-of-five series on Feb. 5-6 will be played at 14,000-seat Antwerp Sports Palace.
Sztem az egyetlen, akitől tartania kell Justine-nek, az Clijsters, tőle viszont eléggé. Ideje volna már, hogy legyőzze, tavaly minden meccsét elvesztette ellene.
Nem volt mégegy kör, Ivanovic megsérült, és ezért Belgium játszotta helyettük a döntőt. Jó lett volna erről korábban tudni, akkor láthattuk volna mindkét meccset.
The former long-time world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam winner was delighted with the way she was able to regroup against a tough opponent in the Final after originally not expecting to be playing. Belgium entered the Final when Serbia withdrew through an injury to Ana Ivanovic.
''I come back to yesterday when I heard I had to play the Final because mentally I was really off the event and then I had to come back. I took a day off yesterday for my elbow and everything,'' Henin said.
''Then today I started a bit slowly, but I felt better, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I wasn’t aggressive enough on my serve and really took the first serve so closely and then in the second I’ve been waiting that I was down 3-1 to play my game and the last five games I was feeling really more aggressive and at my level, but she played a fantastic match and gave me a lot of trouble.''
It was the first time Henin had come up against Mattek-Sands, and she was definitely pushed hard by the American meaning she was delighted with the way she played to give Belgium the first-up win.
''I felt very good at that time, I was feeling quick on the court even in the first set I was feeling so slow and not enough winners and at that time I really had the good timing and every point was important. I just put the intensity much more than the first set. It was good to come back this way and to finish the match with this confidence,'' she said.
''She did put a lot of pressure, but I was feeling a bit slow with only four winners in the first set. It’s not enough in this kind of match and in the second set when I started to be more in the court I felt her defence was less better that time. I was too weak and she was really into the court and that made the difference at the beginning of the second set especially.''
Belgium finished second in Group A and found out yesterday afternoon that they would be playing in the Final in the place of Serbia. Henin was taking it easy when she found and now she's desperate to win the Hyundai Hopman Cup for Belgium.
''I was relaxing in my room, I did some work in the gym. I just planned not to play tennis yesterday. I was in my room and Carlos (Rodriguez, coach) told me, you’ll play the Final tomorrow,'' Henin said.
''I thought well it’s strange because mentally I was really focused on leaving for Melbourne on Sunday which we were going to do, but then after that it was a big surprise. I just hope that Ana is going to be ok for the Open.
'I’m glad with the four matches I have had here and we hope Belgium now is going to make it.''
Nagyon szépen játszott, igen büszke voltam rá. :-)
A párost is megnyerték. A partnere sajnos igen gyenge volt. Az ausztrálokat is verhették volna, de a tiebreakben amikor 8-7 volt Justinének, és srácnak hoznia kellett volna a két pontot, akkor zsinórban 3at elbukott, és ezért elment a meccs is. Pedig akkor most ők lennének a döntőben.
Na mindegy, Justine hozta a kötelezőt.
Ha a könyöke bírja, akkor számolni kell vele az AO-n! :-))
The former world No1 Justine Henin will carry an elbow injury into next month's Australian Open and says she may be six months away from full fitness.
Henin will make her return from injury at the Hopman Cup mixed teams event which starts in Perth on Saturday, ensuring she will play at least three singles and three doubles matches before the first grand slam of the season.
The seven-times grand slam winner, who last played a major event at Wimbledon in June, said her elbow was not completely healed and would have to be closely monitored in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
Henin reached last year's Australian Open final in her first grand slam event following nearly two years off the tour.
Hát úgy néz ki, hogy a Hopman Cup után csak az AO indul Justine. Se Brisbane se Sydney nevezési listáján nincs rajta, plusz a saját honlapján is csak az AO szerepel a Hopman Cup után. Érdekes, hogy nem indul felvezető tornán.
Spent 3 wonderful days at 6th sense tennis Academy (Potter's wheel) in Beijing. Chinese people are so welcoming. Arrived in Sanya yesterday to practice. Great place, nice weather, good mood ;-)
Már megint kikapott Clijsters-től. Most ezen az exhibition meccsen. Kíváncsi vok hogyan fog játszani januárban, addig meg még a Hopman Cup-on is fog játszani. Egyébként egyelőre még se Brisbane se Sydney nevezési listáján sincs rajta Justine.
Justine pictured after a workout at the complex 'Club La Santa' with her fitness trainer Fabien Bertrand. November 14, 2010 Belgium Olympic Training camp Lanzarote, Spain.
Megnéztem mindkét torna honlapját, még csak 3 név van fent az indulók között.
Remélem ezen a decemberi bemutatón nem lesz semmi sérülés. Akárhányszor játszik Clijsters ellen, vagy vele, lásd fed cupa kisujj törés, Wimbledon könyök, mindig jön valami.
