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  • Jan 30th, 2010
  • Comments Off on Williams and Henin to renew fierce rivalry
Saturday's Australian Open showdown between Serena Williams and Justine Henin is more than a dream final between defending champion and comeback queen. It marks the re-birth of one of the fiercest rivalries in modern tennis on a stage where the stakes could not be higher.

Despite a long rivalry stretching back over a decade, Saturday's clash is their first meeting in a grand slam final. The pair have played each other 13 times with Williams winning seven and Henin six and both have held the number one ranking. Their individual records already show they are two of the greatest players the game has seen. Williams has won 11 grand slam titles and Henin seven.

Williams has pocketed almost $30 million in prize money and the Belgian around $20 million. In many ways, the pair could hardly be any different - Williams is an imposing figure who uses her incredible physique and supreme confidence to overpower her opponents.

Henin is smaller, quietly spoken but possesses brilliant technique. The players clashed at the 2003 French Open when Williams accused the Belgian of lying after she refused to allow her to replay a contentious point.

Williams is the favourite to win the Melbourne Park final. She has already won the Australian Open four times and warmed up for the event by teaming up with her sister Venus to successfully defend the doubles title on Friday. Henin won the Australian Open in 2004 and was runner-up to Amelie Mauresmo in 2006 when she threw in the towel because she was feeling ill.

Copyright Reuters, 2010


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