> Other Reports: Men's - Junior Boys - Junior Girls

The US Open, last of this year’s Grand Slams was predictable and unpredictable; disheartening and heartwarming. Mother Nature cooperated and presented 14 days of utterly perfect weather. At the onset, 256 women were in the draw. From that long list, Justine Henin stood alone with the trophy, on Saturday, September 8th. Her win over Svetlana Kuznetsova, (6-1, 6-3), was a testament to her superb game and fitness. Along the way, Henin met both Williams sisters – one who says she’s fit and one who discovered after the match that she was ailing; and Henin triumphed over pettiness after the first win and was treated to graciousness following the second.

The shy Henin, at first glimpse seems a waif, but is wilier than any coyote on court. After Serena Williams lost in the quarterfinals to Henin, her interview was filled with remarks of “how lucky” Henin was to get the win. Asked about her fitness at the obligatory post-match interview, Williams said spitefully, “I don’t want to get fined. That’s the only reason I came.” Sister, Venus, was a class act though, commenting after her own loss in the semis, “I’m okay. I was just feeling dizzy, a little sick to the stomach. I’m not really sure what’s wrong with me.” Subsequent medical tests have pointed to anemia, which could explain her countenance in the match. She praised Henin’s abilities, saying, “But, credit to her for playing well.”

The tournament celebrated Althea Gibson, honoring her for her victory here fifty years ago. She was the first African-American to win a major tennis tournament. Now women from all over the world can compete and win equal prize money with men.

To prove the point, Shahar Peer is an Israeli. Like all young women in Israel, she must complete two years of Army service. In the quarterfinals she fell (6-4, 6-1), to Anna Chakvetadze, from Russia. Although, Israel makes provisions for athletes, which allows flexibility in her service requirements, Peer will soon report for duty again. The current darling of the Israeli press was genuinely thrilled with all the on-court encouragement. In an interview after her loss, she said, “The crowd was unbelievable for me. I really like every time to come back her to New York because I get so much support here.”

The US Open is known for its glitzy, show biz flavor and this year was no exception. Aside from the celebrity patrons gracing the stands every day, the women themselves were a “show” in and of themselves. No longer does Serena Williams hold the torch as the only fashion diva. This year, many of the women used the court to show their flair for the unique. Of course, there was Maria Sharapova and her regal Nike regalia; but Ana Ivanovic, who lost (6-4, 6-2) to Venus in the fourth round, was resplendent in self-chosen lavender adidas wear.

Bethanie Mattik an American, who trains in Florida set tongues wagging with her décolletage-baring tops. She lost in the second round of singles, but made it to the quarters of the Women’s Doubles. Word was that her doubles partner was genuinely concerned about the stability of her support system during hard-fought points.

Agnieszka Radwanska, who trains in Warsaw, Poland made it to the quarterfinals after she surprised last year’s winner, Sharapova. The excited teen had promised her sister, Urszula, who was with her at the Open, (runner-up in Junior Girls), a Louis Vuitton handbag with a win over Sharapova. She is headed home to her pet rats, Flippy and Floppy, presumably with a happy sister, sporting a new purse.

Fashion and silliness aside, Justine Henin, who has been ranked Number One in Women’s tennis for 81 weeks, showed that it was no fluke. The winner of Roland Garros didn’t falter. She didn’t make excuses, because it wasn’t necessary. The US Open didn’t prove who was the best; it underscored the already understood.