http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/players/justine_henin/25162 Recent articles about Justine Henin en-us A week out from the French Open, Serena Williams is one victory away from winning her fourth consecutive title this year. The top-ranked American overcame an early break of her serve to roll past Romanian qualifier Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0 Saturday and reach the Italian Open final, extending her career-best winning streak to 23 matches. In Sunday's final, Williams will face either third-seeded Victoria Azarenka or seventh-seeded Sara Errani, who were up next on center court at the Foro Italico. Williams' only title at this clay-court tournament came when she beat Justine Henin in the 2002 final. In the men's semifinals, six-time champion Rafael Nadal will face sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych and Roger Federer plays 36th-ranked Benoit Paire of France. Fri, 17 May 2013 15:17:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/serena_eases_into_italian_open_final/13644124 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/serena_eases_into_italian_open_final/13644124 Serena eases into Italian Open final http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/serena_eases_into_italian_open_final/13644124 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/d/adfc994d5e3a3f94ede4ed8400ec3dae55a66845/mini/6567982.jpg Serena Williams won her fourth consecutive title of the year in dominating fashion Sunday, beating third-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 6-3 in the Italian Open final. The top-ranked American will enter the French Open, which starts next Sunday, on a career-best 24-match winning streak. Williams was coming off consecutive titles in Miami; Charleston, South Carolina; and Madrid last week. She didn't drop a set while winning this title. Williams' only previous title at this clay-court event came in 2002, when she beat Justine Henin in the final. That was also the year she won her only title at Roland Garros. Last year in Paris, Williams lost in the opening round of a major for the first time, falling to 111th-ranked Virginie Razzano of France. Later, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were renewing their rivalry in the men's final at the Foro Italico. On a pleasant spring day, Williams immediately took control by breaking Azarenka's serve twice to take a 3-0 lead in the opening set. The 15-tim Fri, 17 May 2013 11:55:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/serena_beats_azarenka_for_rome_title/13649131 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/serena_beats_azarenka_for_rome_title/13649131 Serena beats Azarenka for Rome title http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/serena_beats_azarenka_for_rome_title/13649131 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/7/07af7295112b407c60bd3fd90b75cee720464d86/mini/2010_Australian_Open_4734.jpg Serena Williams is on the longest winning streak of her career. The top-ranked American beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-0 Friday to reach the Italian Open semifinals and extend her victory run to 22 matches. Williams had twice won 21 in a row before, although both of those streaks came a decade ago, in 2002 and 2003. In the other half of the draw, two-time defending champion Maria Sharapova withdrew before her quarterfinal match against seventh-seeded Sara Errani due to illness. Showing off near-perfect form less than 10 days before the French Open begins on May 26, Williams has dropped only three games in her last two matches. Against the 22nd-ranked Suarez, the American hit winners seemingly at will. The 15-time Grand Slam champion has also won her previous three tournaments. Williams will next face either two-time Rome winner Jelena Jankovic or Romanian qualifier Simona Halep. Williams' only title at the Italian Open came in 2002, when she beat Justine Henin in the final. That was also the year Wed, 15 May 2013 21:01:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/serena_extends_winning_streak_to_22/13637291 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/serena_extends_winning_streak_to_22/13637291 Serena extends winning streak to 22 http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/serena_extends_winning_streak_to_22/13637291 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/7/07c03460b8e779eccae874a77622547d268c4d21/mini/6353346.jpg (Eds: With AP Photos.) By RAF CASERT AP Sports Writer Not so long ago, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin were dominating women's tennis and turning little Belgium into a force. Now, Belgium is facing the prospect of dropping into the third tier of the Fed Cup because the federation is unwilling - or unable - to pay for the surface its players prefer. Against Poland in the World Group II playoffs, Belgium chose to play on an indoor hardcourt when its players are gearing up for the red clay season in Europe. The switch for one weekend did not sit well. ''We are preparing for clay and Belgium says hardcourt,'' said Rudi Kuyl, the spokesman for Yanina Wickmayer, who confirmed Tuesday that she won't play against Poland. Kirsten Flipkens, ranked No. 23 and Belgium's current top player, waited until the last moment before making her decision Tuesday for the April 20-21 best-of-five series. ''Confirmation : i DO play fed cup,'' she said on Twitter, adding its wasn't Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:40:28 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/once_mighty_belgium_courts_trouble_in_fed_cup/13356664 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/once_mighty_belgium_courts_trouble_in_fed_cup/13356664 Once-mighty Belgium courts trouble in Fed Cup http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/once_mighty_belgium_courts_trouble_in_fed_cup/13356664 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/c/ec519a11e9f96ac063009fd9808f57b877f4b52c/mini/2010_Australian_Open_16fd.jpg Belgium looks destined to sink to the third division of the Fed Cup with its top player uncertain to play, the No. 2 already a no-show and the federation unwilling to pick favored clay because of the financial cost. Yanina Wickmayer on Tuesday confirmed her omission from the World Group II playoff against Poland on April 20-21 and in-form Kirsten Flipkens said she would make a decision later. It could leave fourth-ranked Agnieszka Radwanska and her sister Urszula facing no player ranked higher than 183rd in in the world. It is a far cry from the days, only a few years back, when Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin dominated women's tennis. Belgium won the Fed Cup in 2001 and reached the final in 2006. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:26:09 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/belgium_slip_sliding_in_fed_cup/13353697 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/belgium_slip_sliding_in_fed_cup/13353697 Belgium slip-sliding in Fed Cup http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/belgium_slip_sliding_in_fed_cup/13353697 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Congratulations are in order for Justine Henin and partner Bernoit Bertuzzo who have welcomed their first child.  Henin announced the news via Facebook and Twitter.  "We were anticipating this so much, and now it has happened, this afternoon a little fairy arrived to illuminate our lives... She is called Lalie, she is in top form and we are really delighted! Justine and Benoit," she wrote (translation).   Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:57:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/justine_henin_welcomes_baby_girl/13223080 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/justine_henin_welcomes_baby_girl/13223080 Justine Henin Welcomes Baby Girl http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/justine_henin_welcomes_baby_girl/13223080 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Can Hogstedt offer Sharapova special advice on how to tame his former pupil? We offer a tour of the three semifinals on Thursday as the Australian Open reaches its penultimate stages in both the men’s and women’s draws. Sharapova vs. Li:  The two highest-earning women in the WTA prepare for their latest chapter in one of its most curious rivalries, defined largely by the ebbs and flows in Sharapova’s career.  Sweeping all five of her meetings with Li before shoulder surgery forced her sabbatical, she struggled with this opponent’s steadiness and steeliness in dropping four straight upon her return.  The tide turned markedly in 2012, however, not long after Sharapova had signaled her resurgence by reaching finals at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.  Winning a clay encounter of excruciating suspense in the Rome final, she dismantled Li with ease in both of their hard-court meetings for the loss of seven total games. Under this rivalry runs the intriguing undercurrent of their coache... Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:15:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/wizards_of_oz_xi_previewing_sharapova_li_azarenka_stephens_and_djokovic_ferrer/12731680 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/wizards_of_oz_xi_previewing_sharapova_li_azarenka_stephens_and_djokovic_ferrer/12731680 Wizards of Oz (XI): Previewing Sharapova-Li, Azarenka-Stephens, and Djokovic-Ferrer http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/wizards_of_oz_xi_previewing_sharapova_li_azarenka_stephens_and_djokovic_ferrer/12731680 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Seven-time Grand Slam tennis champion Justine Henin is expecting her first child. The retired Belgian player announced Wednesday on her Facebook page that she is pregnant and the baby is due in March. Henin says she and her partner Benoit Bertuzzo ''have some nice news to announce. Yes, soon there will be three of us.'' The former top-ranked player retired for the first time in 2008. She made a comeback in 2010 and retired for good the following year because of an elbow injury. Henin won four French Opens, two U.S. Opens and one Australian Open. Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:16:59 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/justine_henin_expecting_first_child/11694499 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/justine_henin_expecting_first_child/11694499 Justine Henin expecting first child http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/justine_henin_expecting_first_child/11694499 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Li Na received a boost of confidence by winning Cincinnati less than two weeks ago, her first tournament win of the year. The momentum carried over to her first round match of the US Open on Monday, where the former French Open champion displayed her experience, power and control in defeating Great Britain’s  Heather Watson 6-2, 6-3 on Court 17. “At least I win the title this year,” said a smiling Li of her  Western and Southern Open tournament win. “Because before I was like three times in the final but I always lose in three sets.  I was happy I can win in Cincy.  Nice time if I come to final again I can tell myself, Okay, you can do it.  Like before, Oh, come on, you always lose the final.  What happen?” The ninth seed continued, “Cincy is over.  So you go somewhere else, you have to looking forward to see what you should do in the US Open.” On the match Li said her years on the court won her the match. “At least I was 10 years older than her, so I got mor Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:50:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/li_na_advances_at_us_open_with_new_confidence_and_a_new_coach/11563081 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/li_na_advances_at_us_open_with_new_confidence_and_a_new_coach/11563081 Li Na Advances at US Open with New Confidence and a New Coach http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/li_na_advances_at_us_open_with_new_confidence_and_a_new_coach/11563081 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png 2012 - Maria Sharapova 2011 - Li Na 2010 - Francesca Schiavone 2009 - Svetlana Kuznetsova 2008 - Ana Ivanovic 2007 - Justine Henin 2006 - Justine Henin-Hardenne 2005 - Justine Henin-Hardenne 2004 - Anastasia Myskina 2003 - Justine Henin-Hardenne 2002 - Serena Williams 2001 - Jennifer Capriati 2000 - Mary Pierce 1999 - Steffi Graf 1998 - Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 1997 - Iva Majoli 1996 - Steffi Graf 1995 - Steffi Graf 1994 - Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 1993 - Steffi Graf 1992 - Monica Seles 1991 - Monica Seles 1990 - Monica Seles 1989 - Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 1988 - Steffi Graf 1987 - Steffi Graf 1986 - Chris Evert Lloyd 1985 - Chris Evert Lloyd 1984 - Martina Navratilova 1983 - Chris Evert Lloyd 1982 - Martina Navratilova 1981 - Hana Mandlikova 1980 - Chris Evert Lloyd 1979 - Chris Evert Lloyd 1978 - Virginia Ruzici 1977 - Mima Jausovec 1976 - Sue Barker 1975 - Chris Evert 1974 - Chris Evert 1973 - Margaret Smith Court 1972 - Billie Jean King 1971 - Evonne Goolagong 1970 - Sat, 09 Jun 2012 11:30:31 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/french_open_womens_champions/10975874 http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/french_open_womens_champions/10975874 French Open Women's Champions http://www.yardbarker.com/tennis/articles/french_open_womens_champions/10975874 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/0/e09f9005b4ea6bbc9955344f92d09898038eb5b7/mini/AUSTRALIAMELBOURNETENNISAUSTRALIAN_OPENWOMENS_SINGLESZHENG_7425.jpg