Justine Henin She is one of the most authoritative voices in women’s tennis today. The former Belgian player follows the circuit with passion while dedicating much of her time to her Academy, in which several elite players and players are already training with the aim of being better. Of course: the former champion of Roland Garros becomes a panelist for Eurosport for the next two weeks, and she has dared to leave her predictions for the WTA’s medium-term future on Sky Sports.
One of the players to whom he dedicates the highest praise is the Japanese Naomi Osaka, but if Henin is characterized by something, it is because of her optimism with the current generation of players. “Right now I am much more positive than I was two years ago: I feel that we have a certain stability in women’s tennis, and I think that in the figure of Osaka we have a player capable of leading the game in the next two years. When she won her Her first Us Open and her first Australian Open all seemed quite new to her, and it took her some time to assimilate her new status because it was all quite complicated when she became number one. She is quite shy, it was complicated. “
“As a player she already seemed impressive to me, but now has further improved the physique: She moves very agile and is much faster on the track right now. The speed of the ball and his forehand is incredible. He can do everything on the court: he has great vision and has improved a lot mentally, as he demonstrated at the Australian Open after saving two match points against Muguruza. Her serve reminds me a bit of that of Serena Williams, who sometimes doesn’t play very well but raises the bar when she needs it. He plays fast, he is consistent, he has improved physically, I am impressed with the level he can reach. “
Henin also referred to the game of Iga Swiatek, for many among the pools of the main favorites in Paris. “The role of Swiatek is going to be interesting, because it seems that he has assimilated the success at Roland Garros well, but now he has to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time. It will be a new step for her. On the other hand, Ashleigh Barty is impressive in terms of consistency: she did not play the second half of last season and she is great, she is very stable, that has a lot of merit. I have the feeling that little by little we are getting back to competitiveness on the WTA circuit, and that seems exciting to me. “
Serena Williams and the 24
Will the great American champion be able to add the coveted 24th Grand Slam? Henin considers that there is a “high percentage of chances“.” It’s Serena Williams: you can never close the door on her and say no, that she won’t make it, because she is someone special who has shown it many, many times. We must keep in mind that it has been very consistent, even after having a baby girl. He hasn’t won a Grand Slam, but he’s been to multiple finals, so he’s still there. And I think she wants to continue there: she has the passion, but she also has to deal with various things now that she is a mother, it is more complicated. With almost 40 years he is still there, it is to admire “.
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