Henin-Hardenne: 'I had to think about myself'

Justine Henin-Hardenne was unapologetic after her illness-enforced withdrawal handed Amelie Mauresmo her first grand slam title.

Mauresmo had stormed into a 6-1 2-0 lead in the Australian Open final when Henin-Hardenne retired because of a stomach illness, resulting from a reaction to anti-inflammatories she was taking to deal with a shoulder injury.

Victory was already in sight for Mauresmo in her second grand slam final - seven years after her first when she lost in Melbourne to Martina Hingis.

“I don’t know what is harder: to lose even when you’re playing well, or just when you have to retire like that,” said Henin-Hardenne.

“But it’s my health. I just have to think about myself right now because it’s only me on the court. It’s me that is feeling the bad way I was feeling.”

Asked whether she was right to even start the match, having been ill overnight, Henin-Hardenne replied: “You always want to try because you know it’s a grand slam final, so you want to believe that you’re 100%.

“But as soon as I started the match, I really understood quickly that I wasn’t feeling well, I wasn’t in good shape, I had no energy. I couldn’t hit the ball very hard.”

The Belgian’s misery allowed Frenchwoman Mauresmo, 26, to shed the tag as the best player never to have won a grand slam singles title.

It was remarkably the third time an opponent had retired on her this fortnight, and the way the match ended meant she was denied the elation of winning a match point, making for an awkward celebration.

“The way I reacted would have been probably different if the match went until the end,” she said.

“But the joy is here. And, really, again, it’s tough for Justine, but I just also think I was playing some great tennis today.”

Asked to comment on the fact some people might suggest Henin-Hardenne should have pushed on, regardless of how bad she was feeling, Mauresmo made no secret of what she would have done in the same situation.

“I was ready to die on the court today. That’s just the way I was coming out on the court this afternoon. So that’s it,” she added.

Henin-Hardenne looked to be her own worst enemy as she struggled to contain her rising error rate.

Mauresmo consolidated a break in the second set by holding her service game after a series of fiercely contested rallies.

The Belgian then called for a doctor and, after a brief consultation, opted to call it quits as her pain appeared to worsen.