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Post by janie on Jan 25, 2008 14:31:54 GMT -5
google translation of the above article:
Justine Henin was not well at this Australian Open. This was confirmed, Serge Messens, his doctor and best Friend:-O, Paolo Leonardi, the daily newspaper in Brussels Le Soir present in Melbourne. Serge Messens, she called Twice daily, including says: "Back there, it Made to rethink its separation from Pierre-Yves." N.1 World had ended her marriage to the same period Of the Year in 2007. At the end of this heavy defeat, Carlos Rodriguez, the coach of the Belgian, had already indicated that Justine had landed too many issues since its Arrival in Australia.
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Post by sasha on Jan 25, 2008 14:36:09 GMT -5
I know it must suck, but you can't do anything about PY liking the penis.
Win tennis matches. After that, get married again. Yay.
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Post by corswandt on Jan 25, 2008 18:10:26 GMT -5
Carlos is right. We all know how nervous and freaked out Justine gets when she has some niggling injury she can't stop fretting about. Excuses. You're just like every other fanbase, except more conceited. But you'll get your laughs in a few hours.
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Post by janie on Jan 25, 2008 18:26:21 GMT -5
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Post by :rolleyes: on Jan 25, 2008 23:04:25 GMT -5
damn Carlos and his excuses.
well whatever if excuses lead to future wins than so be it.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 28, 2008 16:11:21 GMT -5
You know...this was a horrible loss, but in terms of what Justine needs to do to cement her legacy, it could be as meaningless as a Slam loss could ever be. What she needs above all is Wimbledon (and ultimately, enough Slams to take her ahead of Serena). I believe she can beat anyone on grass; but I wouldn't want to see her try coming off a win at the USO, a win at the AO (which this probably would have been if she'd beaten Sharapova) and a win at RG (I really can't envisage anyone beating her there).
The scoreline bothers me, though.
But...Wimbledon. Win that, and I'm happy, even if Justine doesn't win a match the rest of the year. A shock loss at RG might even reassure me that she won't be drained by the time she gets on the grass.
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Post by sasha on Jan 28, 2008 17:14:14 GMT -5
I'm not sure what Justine's legacy will be. At least in America, most assume she just took advantageous of clay and the Williams' laziness.
I fear she'll be like a Goolagong. Won a lot of slams, but not remembered amongst the greats of her time.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Jan 28, 2008 17:23:17 GMT -5
I think her legacy will be fine, if she keeps winning. The numbers will speak for themselves. Just like it's only loony Selestials who keep questioning Graf's achievements. The rest only see 22 Slams.
But yeah, at least one Wimbledon title is essential.
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Post by janie on Feb 5, 2008 13:53:23 GMT -5
05/02/2008: After some much needed days of rest Justine hit the tennis courts again for practice sessions. Next week on Valentine's Day the Belgian heroine will perform in front of her beloved local fans in Antwerp for the first time since 2004 in a WTA tournament. The official Antwerp draw will be made this weekend, but due to the excitement of Justine's Belgium appearance among tennis fans her tournament schedule was announced right away. JH will play on Valentine's Day February 14 at 19:30 hrs. If she passes this opening test then it will be a Friday night quarterfinal again at 19:30 hrs in the evening. The semi-final would be 13:00 hrs on Saturday and the finale on Sunday at 14:00 hrs. Also appearing with Justine in Antwerp are WTA stars Anna Chakvetadze, Daniela Hantuchova, Tatiana Golovin, Patty Schynder, Sybille Bammer, the young hots shots Agnes Szavay and Agnieskza Radwanska. Serena Williams withdrew due to dental surgery.
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Post by Brinyi on Feb 5, 2008 15:05:46 GMT -5
Next week on Valentine's Day the Belgian heroine will perform in front of her beloved local fans in Antwerp for the first time since 2004 in a WTA tournament. Ha! I am assuming that was sarcasm.
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Post by Grarliner on Feb 21, 2008 10:29:23 GMT -5
Just like it's only loony Selestials who keep questioning Graf's achievements. The rest only see 22 Slams. Steffi's lucky like that, but anyone with a hint of objectivity must concede that things likely wouldn't have turned out so well for her in no-stabbing world.
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Post by janie on Mar 18, 2008 6:34:01 GMT -5
Finally something new on the JH web site:
17/03/2008:
The women's tennis tour is currently in Indian Wells, California, but next week #1 Justine returns to center stage along with the complete WTA show experience of all the world's best players at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. It will be the final stop of the early hardcourt segment of the tour calender before spring clay season officially begins.
Justine is training in Monaco, and will fly to the USA later this week. She receives a bye and plays her first match on Friday March 28 or Saturday March 29. Last year the elegant Belgian made it to the finals with Serena Willams.
I sure hope it's windy in Monaco ...
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 17, 2008 2:49:30 GMT -5
Hey, hey. Remember me? and ummm... that Belgian tennis player. Go ahead ask me what's she's up too? If things work out she'll have her "mojo" back thanks to JCF's former coach Bruno. You know he's got a promotion at the 6th Sense Academy? The most important part that you Tennis Cultists should know (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) was that Bruno was (SHOCK!) Justine's sort of date at the Laureus Awards. Now come on- do you think she would drag any old person to St. Petersburg Russia amid all that freaking security because Putin was at the Award show too? Here's something you might enjoy. Justine's new Wilson K Tour commercial. What's up with that annoying Americanized "Justine HEeeH-Nen"? www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8rqteRnFq8
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 17, 2008 2:56:12 GMT -5
And what is up with Wtaworld.com and HQH2 - it's like filled with Doomsday members waiting for Justine to die a slow and ugly death. Who needs haters when there's fans like those?
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 17, 2008 3:03:47 GMT -5
I don't know if this has anything to do with her poor tennis to start the season with - but apparently the PY divorce has been finalized in Feb/March. They are totally divorced now- over and out! There was an interview with him last month and he mourned the new arrangement - now that he's very much divorced he can't touch her leg anymore when they see each other. I swear that is what he said to the Flemish press. They actually go out to dinner and meals sometimes in Monaco. That's done with. It's good to start thinking total tennis now for JH.
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 17, 2008 3:17:34 GMT -5
Janie - I know you like to brush up on your French skills by reading www.dhnet.be/section/3/sports.htmlbut the tennis journalist Serge Fayat has knives for anything related to Justine now. Carlos and Justine haven't really changed that much, they are still major grudge holders! LOL And this trickles down to the staff at Club Justine N1, the 6th Sense Academy etc... (Expect maybe moi at the webteam. I'm too nice. ) Anyway- Serge Fayat was snubbed and not given any invitation back in November to the Club Justine N1 inguration nor the Tennis Show at the Club, nor even Charleroi. He's been royally pissed ever since the big shaft in November 2007 and hasn't said a decent thing about Justine since then. It's not as if he's suddenly become a Sharapova fan, no it's simply only to f**k with their minds by sending out his voodoo doll articles to the Walloon region.
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Post by janie on Apr 17, 2008 7:13:16 GMT -5
Green! I've been wishing you'd show up. I don't even look at HQH2 -- it's bad enough to see the mournful thread titles that appear on the World's front page. You'd think Justine had contracted AIDS from those titles.
In the US media, JH has pretty much been forgotten. Her bizarrely lopsided losses in 2008 aren't even discussed from her angle -- all that's mentioned is how amazing MS and SW are to so easily dispose of the former (and current, though they don't mention it) queen of the heap. Federer's uncharacteristic losses are big press here, but I guess no one really believed Justine was REALLY ever very good, so her poor start to the season isn't worth discussing.
But I don't care about her coverage any more. I just want her to find her health and her form again. I want to see her excited about playing tennis again -- hope it happens soon.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Apr 17, 2008 7:30:08 GMT -5
I think the general consensus among casual fans and outsiders was either that:
1) Justine was never that good to begin with and was only winning because WS (and maybe Maria) were ____________________.
or
2) Yes, she was good but she's small and can't compete with the big girls forever, sooner or later they're going to knock her off the throne.
I think the second option was more prevalent, but either way, it's not too surprising if her current results are not being discusses much.
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 17, 2008 8:35:04 GMT -5
Yes, the US media has dumped Justine, but they had no other choice. Tennis is behind college sports now on most sports sites - newspapers, periodicals and broadcasts.
People don't read American tennis news to get "tennis" news. They have their own media, in their own language. Maria and SW are NIKE. They don't want an Adidas world - and really Justine and SFX have never offered much interviews or exclusives to TENNIS magazine or any other publication.
The thing about Justine - and it's sort of planned this way because she's media shy. Everything is related to results. So, if she doesn't win- there's not other coverage.
But she needs to beaten up by Maria and Serena or there would be no reason to try to improve. Things were getting too cushy, and Carlos was being so arrogant - the entire staff were in December 2007. An ass kicking was what they needed, and now they do have a goal - to regain their reputation(s).
She didn't mention it, but Yuri's gesture really pissed Justine off. This is up there with the sort of garbage only Lei Clijsters couldn't whipped up. And Carlos isn't too particulary keen on the WS mother - she told the Belgian media that Justine acts like a dog, and needed hand signals at Wimbledon to win.
They are grudge holders - Justine and Carlos will get back where they belong.
By the way- they opened a 6th Sense Tennis Academy in Orlando. And don't let that bullshit about trying to be something different fool you. The purpose is to compete against Chris Evert's academy and Boliterri. Junior tennis players have said they were ripped off by those academies and haven't learned as much as they did in 3 weeks at Belgium with Carlos' coaches.
So, it's funny that Cronin and Bodo etc... are trying to dismiss Justine because actually she's only warming up. There's a major goal to get a stake teaching Justine/Carlos style tennis in Florida.
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 17, 2008 8:47:52 GMT -5
Janie, off course Fed Guy is discussed -he's no different from Maria, SW and Nadal. NIKE and IMG bots. Except Serena and her William Morris Talent (LOL) Agency representative rather than IMG.
They are no different that shoving McDonalds to the public. But hey- Pova pushes Pepsi Co products and Serena pushes McDonald's so really it's all one big NIKE/IMG world in the U.S.A.
This is why there's such a huge love/hate with Novak and Ana. They are ADIDAS and not with IMG. So, they are the enemy. Jankovic isn't an IMG bot either so, it wouldn't take much for the press to go against them.
Sveta is with IMG, and look at the loving media and write-ups she gets in the US? Tennis is dying in the US - I couldn't believe that ESPN dropped all the American tournament tv coverage. Now that's telling. Not even bothering to air local - good ole American tournaments. Geez...
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Post by janie on Apr 21, 2008 20:13:23 GMT -5
from Justine's web site: and you thought she was moaning and sulking around the house, ready to retire!
Justine's Monday Brussels Grand Place Square Surprise 22/04/2008:
It's Monday afternoon and you've made it halfway through the first day of the week. You applaud yourself for making the effort. The chorus from a 1980's song, "I don't like Mondays" comes to mind. But something stuns you wide awake out of lethargy; it's Justine Henin and she wants to play tennis with you right in the city square. Sebastien, Eleonore, Emlie and Barnabe will tell you it happened, and it's true. They should know; Justine played tennis with them.
It's 6:00am in Brussels at the Grand Place Square, one of the most photographed town square in Europe with it's beautiful original Gothic arthitecture. The sun hardly has risen, yet there's a flurry of activity. A group of men arrive and hammer away. A stage of some type, perhaps a launch of a new beer? There's a flash of blue carpet, and white lines. It looks almost like a tennis court, but that can't be right or could it?
At 3:00 pm an announcement is made in the Grand Place Square. Belgium's own national treasure and tennis World #1 Justine Henin has arrived. After being introduced Justine tells the crowd she's happy and injury free. It's Spring and she wants to play tennis. In fact, Justine wants to play tennis right now! She goes amidst the crowd and randomly selects her rivals for today.
Sebastien from Montreal, Canada is Justine's first opponent. He's visiting Belgium for two weeks. "This morning I was walked by and seen them constructing something. I never imagined it had anything to do with Justine. I returned in the afternoon, and saw a huge crowd. Justine signed and passed out tennis balls. She brought out her tennis racket and I was selected. I'm a huge fans of hers. She has style, grace and class. She's a star athlete. I'm really happy to have played tennis with her. She's one of a kind. I won't forget this experience."
It's one of the first days' of Belgium Spring, and the thermometer rose a few degrees. More applause, and the crowd grows in numbers. People of all ages and languages gather. Visitors, Belgians, business executives and students.
Belgian Eléonore, 6 years and on a school exursion from Nadrin with her classmates. "We're here for three days in Brussels. And I'm the one that saw Justine in the Square. She chose me and helped a bit in the beginning, the tennis racket was too big for me. But then I started to play really well without her coaching. She presented me with a smaller size the perfect fit for my hands, and told me I can keep it as a gift."
Cameras are placed high above to record this historical event.
Emilie, 20 years old student. "I was returning after class at university when I saw Justine there. I made my way up closer. I wanted to be selected. I like watching tennis, but there's a great difference between armchair tennis, and knowing how to really play. But I've decided to start tennis. And now I even have a racket."
Some people even sneaked out of their offices to play tennis with Justine.
Barnabe, Male Office worker. "I work in an office, and saw Justine there. I asked my boss if I could leave the office to see her. I assumed only cute girls get picked, but it's not neccessary to have friends in high places! I was chosen. I thought you had to be animated and show how motivated you really were to play against Justine, so I acted up a bit. It was funny. Justine had a good laugh with me. She's natural, and doesn't put on an attitude. More down to earth like everyone else. It was great, but I have to get back to work!"
An hour later Justine disappeared as suddenly as she arrived in the Grand Square. The applause from astonished crowd of businessmen, students, kids, housewives, and visitors can still be heard. The photos of Justine's special Grand Square event will be available in the photo gallery soon. The tennis matches were presented by Justine and Randstad.
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 24, 2008 21:26:48 GMT -5
I'm glad you liked the article/feature. My love for 80's music gets a look in with a Boomtown Rats "I dont' like Monday's" reference. Some of the footage will be used in a upcoming Belgian tv commercial that feature Justine for Randstand trying to get a job, and she has to show some of her skills or something like that. Anyway- the rumours are probably very true about her new BF. I'm getting nothing, but happy email/memos from my chief (team member). I think Justine's stopped bugging them, now that her time will be only on her tennis, Boyfriend and family members. She's not coming around the club to check on new installations. Mainly only to practice, and do her schedules. I hardly ever ask about stuff like that to them, and I would get chewed out if I did ask who and how Justine's new BF looks like! So, I don't know if he is as good looking as rumour has it. He's English speaking - South African and blonde or something. Not Dutch South African, but Commonwealth Nations South African. He can't speak or understand any French. Isn't it great that Justine has her own clay courts? There are 6 outdoor clay courts and 3 indoor clay courts at Club Justine N1 that she practices. When in Monaco, Justine practices at the Monte Carlo Country Club, but it's ATP tournament week so she's training in Belgium this week.
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 24, 2008 21:32:04 GMT -5
Here's a news clip of Justine at the Brussels event. I hope you guys like it. She lost some of that pudge and looks very fit. I'm sure BF visiting her a recently had something to do with this new glow on her. JH only had one real boyfriend, and married that guy. Must be a real eye opener to be with someone very new to JH - and I hope to see this translate to great tennis again. ttp://www.vtm.be/asx/vtmnieuws/index_opgeknipt.php?20080421_194439_3G_JUSTINE19.mxf On Sporza www.sporza.be/cm/sporza.be/mediatheek/1.291988
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 24, 2008 21:33:07 GMT -5
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Post by corswandt on Apr 25, 2008 8:58:35 GMT -5
The paranoid conspiracy theories (#885-889) were funnier than the fluff.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Apr 25, 2008 9:11:39 GMT -5
I'm neither paranoid nor a conspiracy theorist. As far as I'm concerned no journalist needs to write a single line about Justine, as long as she actually plays well.
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Post by corswandt on Apr 25, 2008 9:37:00 GMT -5
That's not what I gathered from that exchange.
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Post by greenhitop on Apr 25, 2008 10:34:24 GMT -5
Well... in that case I'm very disappointed in TENNIS CULT. You have Sharapova fluff and enjoying it, yet Justine can't have fluff? You guys have sold out here!!!!!! This use to be the place I glanced at for tennis forums to get away from Sharapova's fans who are in jail for D.U.I from last year's Spring break or those hate over the top WS fans. But now it's all - "let's follow this weeks obscure cute blonde girl or teenager". Shouldn't you people be Li Na or Shahar Peer supporters here?
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Post by janie on Apr 25, 2008 13:43:24 GMT -5
Ha, we can't weed out all the Sharapova fans, even here. But don't worry; there are as many Akgul fans here as there are MS fans -- you can't say that about wtaworld! -- and even more fans of the lovable Franny Schiavone, who is very popular here. And I'd rather post fluff than read "doodles" any day.
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Post by janie on May 2, 2008 12:04:05 GMT -5
When it comes to writing in her web site "diary", Justine is no Samuel Pepys.
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