Tennis: Henin-Hardenne quits final

A bitterly disappointed Justine Henin-Hardenne said she had no regrets after pulling out of the Australian Open tennis final against Amelie Mauresmo yesterday because of an upset stomach.

The 2004 champion said that she doubled the dose of anti-inflammatory tablets she was taking for a shoulder injury and that was the likely cause of her illness. "It's my decision, my choice. I decided to walk on the court because I'm professional, I want to try," said the Belgian eighth seed, who won $A610,000 ($NZ678,456) as the losing finalist."I have no regrets about the decision I took," she said, before breaking down in tears.

The Belgian added that she understood some people would think she should've played through to the end despite her discomfort.

"Everyone has the right to think that but it's my health," Henin-Hardenne said. "I have to think about myself right now."

Henin-Hardenne, who won the French Open last year after coming back from a knee injury, said she had been on anti-inflammatories for two weeks and realised before the final that her performance would be affected. "I knew at the beginning of the match I couldn't win it. I just tried to stay in the match but there was no chance for me," Henin-Hardenne said. "If I would have kept playing, maybe I would have injured something else, so that was the best decision even if it was very, very hard for me. My stomach was so painful."

The Belgian said before the final that she was in the best shape for two years and playing without pain for the first time in eight months after a hamstring problem cut short her 2005 season. But retiring from the final was one of the biggest disappointments of her career.

"I don't know what is harder - to lose even when you're playing well or when you have to retire like that," she said. "It's very disappointing because I was playing so well."

The four-times Grand Slam champion also admitted that she had endured an uncomfortable night on the eve of the final. "When the stomach is so upset and inflamed, you just don't have any energy," Henin-Hardenne said. "Last night I was feeling so bad I thought I would have to go to see a doctor at three in the morning."

She was a clear favourite with bookmakers after winning the Sydney International two weeks ago but became the first woman to retire from the final of a Grand Slam tournament in the Open era.

Meanwhile Mauresmo finally lived up to the promise she displayed seven years ago when she claimed her first Grand Slam title. The athletic Frenchwoman was already well on her way to victory, leading 6-1, 2-0, when the Belgian eighth seed told the umpire she was quitting because she felt sick.

Mauresmo, who lost the 1999 Australian Open to Martina Hingis in her only previous Grand Slam final, said she had no idea that Henin-Hardenne was unwell.

"It was a surprise for me also. I didn't really see that she was feeling bad," the French third seed said. "Apparently she had a tough night, I don't know exactly. She couldn't really sleep. Maybe nerves affected her but I don't know."

Mauresmo said she was disappointed at the way the match finished but that wasn't about to ruin her celebrations. "It was a strange way to win but I thought I was in control of my game," she said.

"I've waited a long time for this and I've worked very hard so I think I deserve this. I've had bad moments myself. It hasn't been easy."

Mauresmo was a nervous teenager when she lost to Hingis in 1999 and there were real fears she would never win a Grand Slam after years of near-misses.

She has been one of the most consistent performers in recent seasons, reaching the quarter-finals or better in 13 of her last 15 Grand Slams before arriving in Melbourne. But her failure to reach a final gave her a reputation of being a choker.

However, the 26-year-old silenced her critics when she won last year's season-ending tour championship in Los Angeles, showing she had mental and physical strength.

- REUTERS