Wimbledon Ladies Final: Mauresmo vs. Henin-Hardenne

Justine Henin-Hardenne (-215) vs. Amelie Mauresmo (***75)

It’s January 28 in Melbourne, Australia and Amelie Mauresmo is about to play the first Grand Slam final of her career against the in-form Belgian and fast-climbing sixth-ranked player in the world, Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Mauresmo had mowed down her first six opponents with unusual ease, including three opponents ranked in the top 16 and the second-ranked Kim Clijsters. Her lifelong dream of winning a Grand Slam was so close she could feel the choker label she’d adorned for what felt like an eternity slowly peeling off her back. No matter oddsmakers had her listed as a hefty underdog; she felt it was her time.

While other players relaxed during their rare month of vacation in December last year, Mauresmo spent her offseason busting her hump, hitting balls, and getting in the best shape of her life in preparation for the Australian Open. After finishing the season with a pair of titles at Philadelphia and the Tour Championships, the fourth-ranked Frenchwoman was more determined than ever to climb to the world’s No. 1 and add one of those trophies to her case that had been missing for so long.

And just when it was so close she could taste it, Henin-Hardenne approached the umpire’s chair and called for the trainer.

Gastrointestinal pains.

Mauresmo was puzzled and approached the net to find out what the problem was. The trainer and doctor even looked confused when they came out and it appeared as though they were pleading with her to continue.

After all, the timing was a tad strange. Down 1-6, 0-2 in the second set and she’d just won a point on a 33-stroke rally.

Two points later and she approached the chair again, this time to retire. Mauresmo wins, but is robbed of that ultra-satisfying match point conversion. There was no hiding the utter disappointment on Mauresmo’s face.

Henin-Hardenne claimed later it was a reaction to an anti-inflammatory that forced her to retire. Respected analysts like Mary Carillo and Pam Shriver were scathing in their criticisms.

All Mauresmo had to say afterward was this: “I don’t really want to comment on that. I was ready to die on the court today.”

Since then, Mauresmo has been as diplomatic as possible about what happened that day, dancing around the question whenever reporters asked. On Saturday she’ll have a chance to show everyone how she really feels.

Mauresmo hasn’t missed a beat since the Australian Open winning two titles and reaching the semis or finals in three other tournaments. She has climbed to No. 1 in the world and held it since April. And yet, oddsmakers have her as a heavy underdog once again at Wimbledon.

The reason has more to do with Henin-Hardenne than it does with Mauresmo. Henin-Hardenne has looked absolutely possessed since the incident at the Australian Open as though she is trying to play her way out of the controversy she created.

So far it’s working. She has three titles since January (including Roland Garros and Eastbourne last month) and hasn’t dropped a set at Wimbledon so far. She only saw her first hint of losing a set in the semifinals when Clisters took her to a tie-break in the second set.

Henin-Hardenne is striking the ball with more power than ever and she`s been working her opponents all over the court. In particular, her return game has been frightening and she absolutely embarrassed Huntachova in the semis with some of her smashing backhand returns that Huntachova didn`t even bother to chase.

Henin-Hardenne won four return games in the semis against Clijsters and won at least five against every other opponent. But if there is one player who might be better at returning, it`s Mauresmo. She too, is racking up the break points and managed six against Sharapova in the semis, whom I feel has the best serve in women`s tennis.

I would also give Mauresmo the slight edge on serve, where she has more aces and has maintained a better first-serve percentage than Henin-Hardenne this Wimbledon. The Frenchwoman has maintained a first-serve percentage around the 60 mark, while Henin-Hardenne has dipped below 50 in each of her last two matches and hasn`t been better than 65 percent yet.

It should be noted that these two have met once since January, at Berlin where Henin-Hardenne won in straight sets. However, that was on clay - Mauresmo`s worst surface - and you`ll see a different player on Saturday.

I see Mauresmo evening up her career series with Henin-Hardenne at five matches apiece, but you may want to pack a lunch to go with your Breakfast at Wimbledon if you plan on watching on NBC because this one is going to be a war.

My Pick: Mauresmo ***75

I was really really hoping for Sharapova-Vaidisova in the Final, so I could have woke up Saturday morning and rather than put clothes on, just stayed naked and headed to the couch where I would have promptly proceeded to jerk off for 2 hours straight while those 2 hot Euros played.

Save for that final though, this is the next best thing: Revenge for Man-Lesbo after Hennin-Whoreden quit on her in the Aussie Final.