Tennis/French Open: One of the crowns has finally fallen but not without tears and acrimony. Serena Williams, who had not lost a singles match in a Grand Slam tournament she had entered since the 2001 US Open final, departed Roland Garros yesterday to a cacophony of whistles and booing, having lost her semi-final match in three sets to 20-year-old Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne.
The 'Serena Slam' has now morphed into a 'Belgian Slam' as Henin meets compatriot Kim Clijsters in tomorrow's French Open final.
It was an unforgiving two hours and 20 minutes for the younger of the Williams sisters, who was jeered and hustled on countless service points throughout the match in the Henri Chatrier Centre Court. Her mother and coach Oracene quickly condemned the crowd as one that "lacked class" and displayed "ignorance of the etiquette of tennis". The player, too, failed to keep her own counsel and at one point broke down in tears at the post-match interview before then accusing Henin-Hardenne of "lying" and "fabricating".
"I think it's bad that people boo between serves, or other people are egging them on by doing ridiculous things. So that gets a little tough," said Williams wearily. "It was a tough crowd out there today, really tough - the story of my life."
Asked why she thought it was the story of her life, Williams broke down. "I don't know, I'm not used to crying," she said breaking off. "It's a little difficult. All my life I've had to fight. So it's just another fight. I'm going to have to learn how to win. That's all."
Despite the intervention of the umpire, the fiercely partisan crowd continued to heckle the world number one throughout the match and on one point, in the seventh game of the third set, Williams had to deal with an "Allez Justine" in the middle of her ball toss. In the end it became quite ugly and made for a difficult exit for the 21 year-old, who barely touched hands with Henin-Hardenne and declined to say anything to her at the conclusion.
"I was a little disappointed with her," said Williams. Then, referring to an occasion when Henin-Hardenne put up her hand for a long ball at service, added the incendiary, "I think to start lying, fabricating isn't fair. I understand that people want to win these days but . . ." She also said that she believed the crowd behaviour had nothing at all to do with the current frigid relationship between US President George Bush and French President Jacque Chirac.
"I don't think being American right now had anything to do with it. I don't think because of what's going on between France and America had much to do with it."
The world number one had injudiciously stated before the match that she could be beaten only by herself. But to have accepted that yesterday would have been to deny Henin-Hardenne's guile and wonderful movement around the court. And, while Williams can convincingly argue that her weapons-grade ground strokes and serve were not working at their lethal best, she could not say that she was downed by a lesser player.
"Like I said, she played very well today and she probably deserved to win. She was the better player today - really," said Williams.
So ends her Grand Slam win-streak of 33 consecutive matches and four titles and her hopes of emulating Steffi Graf, Margaret Court and Martina Navratilova, whose dominance earned them six consecutive Grand Slam titles.
But more importantly for Williams is the veneer of invincibility that has been shattered and with the decline of Venus, evidenced by her early departure here, the prevailing mood is that finally a player has successfully circumvented the incredible power both sisters possess. This is Henin-Hardenne's third career win over Serena, but, vastly, her most important.
"I think it's good that you have a different final. It's good to see different players. I think it's good for women's tennis," said Henin-Hardenne. It's probably one of the most beautiful wins of my career."
The first set began with an American ace and ended with a Belgian ace, Henin coming out clearly on top. Breaking the Williams' serve in the first game then in the third to love, Henin was always threatening in a breathlessly fluid opening. Breaking for a third time she confidently served out for the first set 6-2.
The second set was decided at the close, when Williams broke her opponent for 5-3 before immediately handing it back and breaking again in the 10th game. Sending Henin-Hardenne three times to the tramlines to retrieve backhands, Williams then stitched a drive to the forehand side for 6-4.
A battle of wills that involved seven service breaks settled the final set. Having broken Williams for the third time for 5-4, Henin-Hardenne stepped up to serve for the match but was beaten to love.
The issue of choking immediately arose as she has suffered from nerves before. But straight away Henin-Hardenne broke back as Williams offered up yet another terrible service game for her to gobble up for 6-5. On her second offering the Belgian didn't hesitate and with the crowd erupting, served out for the match to love for 7-5.
