SHE MAY consider herself an outsider this year but Justine Henin was once again drawing admirers with a demonstration of timing and technique over power. These days always eventfully wind through the first week and even a player as relatively limited as Kristina Barrios is, on day three, something of a threat.

One shot at Grand Slam glory four times a year and only once on grass had this German, ranked 73 in the world, knocking down serves at over 100mph at the former world number one but with little effect until Henin’s concentration evaporated in the second set. She turned a match that was seamlessly going her way into one she was forced to carve out, 6-3, 7-5, despite taking a 5-1 lead in the second set.

Henin and Kim Clijsters both came through, with US Open champion Clijsters taking her record against the experienced Croatian, Karolina Sprem, to five wins.

While Clijsters won in New York last year just weeks after her comeback, there are still questions hanging over the two on their ability to master the grass efficiently. Henin, who took two years out of the game, seems still haunted by her Centre Court loss in the 2006 final to Amelie Mauresmo.

“When I go back and think about the 2006 final against Mauresmo . . . I had control of the match, I was a set up. It’s been one of the most difficult moments of my career, that’s for sure,” said Henin. “I see myself as an outsider this year, uhm, still a year of ups and downs. It’s very hard to predict what might happen.”

She, along with Clijsters, Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, may take comfort that 28 appears to be the new 18 in top tennis circles. Talk at this year’s championships is on how no teenagers have come through in recent years in the way Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf and the likes all the way back to Chris Evert came through as young phenoms.

An air of normality has crept back, which in women’s tennis is seen as a curious anomaly. Still the game remains dominated by players in their late 20s, who are now quaintly termed veterans.

“I love the veterans,” said Henin, the thought of it bringing a smile to her naturally intense and nervous face. “Now you can see all the players being at the top at 28, 29. It’s been a great generation. Serena and Venus, I think, brought a lot to the game. We really pushed each other to get better.”

When switched on, Henin dominated Barrios, with her waspish movement and precision confounding the much taller player and wrong-footing her. The veteran also showcased the most elegant one-handed backhand in the game, now that her nemesis in that 2006 final, Mauresmo, has retired.

Walloon-speaking Clijsters’ duel with Sprem ended 6-3, 6-2, moving her nicely into the third round and on to a collision course with her French-speaking Belgian colleague, Henin. If they both win their next matches they will meet.

In Belgium that will be divisive as the country is currently talking openly of peacefully separating. Triggered by an emergency call at a recent car accident that was not responded to because the caller was speaking French, it was an issue that even the naturally-reclined Clijsters avoided.

“I’m obviously not there yet,” she said diplomatically. “So until I’m in that position . . .”

Another of the veterans, second-seed Venus Williams, added to that body of venerable Grand Slam winning work. All of 30 years old, it took Williams two sets to see off the 22-year-old Ekaterina Makarova. Given that the 67th-ranked player in the world had won her first career title in Eastbourne last week, Williams might have been troubled. But the five-times winner crushed the young Russian in a 25-minute first set 6-0 before winning the second 6-4 and the match.

The Williams serve speed dangerously went up to around 125mph, as fast as many of the men. All Marakova could do was stick a racket on the ball whenever she could but with Williams lurking at the net, she was able to convert 18 points from a total of 20 in the match.

“I always think I’m playing well. I always give my game grade A,” said Williams. “I’m just trying to win, get through the round, nothing super complicated, just keep it simple and win in straight sets.”

Same old Williams as usual then.