French champ fights pain to qualify

JUSTIN HENIN-HARDENNE, the slim Belgian star with the biggest promise of ending the women’s power era at Wimbledon, fought through the pain of a hand injury to reach the second round against tall Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko.

French champion Henin-Hardenne, who ended Serena Williams’ Grand Slam dominance last month had damaged her wrist and had to drop out of a final in Holland last Saturday against compatriot Kim Clijsters, the rival she conquered in the Roland Garros final.

But after a fitness test she surged to an opening victory 7-5 6-1 although she said: “It is still painful and I have to go match by match.”