Injury plaque over Antwerp, Henin also withdraws

TeamWTA Pictures
By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 19 2004

(Antwerp) The Proximus Diamond Games are plagued with injured player. The latest in the long line is Justine Henin-Hardenne she had to withdraw due to an attack of bronchitis. Tournament Director Bob Verbeeck announced this bad news this morning prior to Henin-Hardenne press meeting.

From the six top ten players who were set to play at the Proximus Diamond Games only one, namely Kim Clijsters, is left to entertain the audience.

The tournament is almost build around the two Belgian and some of the top ten player with one Belgian player and four top ten players gone the tournament has lost a lot of its value.

Prior to Justine Henin-Hardenne’s first match she had said in an interview that she only plays in Antwerp because it is located in Belgium. The tournament does not really fit into her schedule she said. With this late withdraw and the controversy that was caused earlier this week Justine Henin-Hardenne is giving the tournament director Verbeeck a very hard time.

Justine Henin-Hardenne stated at the press meeting that she just did what was needed for her career and she did she didn’t have any burden of guilt about her withdraw. Before canceling her first match Henin-Hardenne had been practicing from 7.15 till 9.00 in the morning. At 11.00 she was at the physio before attending a 45-minute meeting at Belgacom.

Henin-Hardenne said she started to take her antibiotics last night and that it was not in her nature to withdraw for no reason. She said her health and well being were always priority. Lucky Loser Stephanie Foretz from France will take Henin-Hardenne’s place in the schedule.

Kim Clijsters was asked if she could change her schedule and play her doubles match with Elke in the evening session. The ticket holders for the Henin-Hardenne are going to be notified as soon as possible and there is a possible refund when they don’t want to use the ticket for tonight’s match.

Venus Williams did call Verbeeck personally to apologize and to tell him that she caught the flu on Friday night and that she was ill with fever. Verbeeck said that she also was having trouble breathing and that her cancellation had nothing to do with her earlier injuries. Williams had been in contact with a doctor who advised her not to travel and to take a rest.

The list of absentees is getting longer by the day. What should have been a Tier II is slowly starting become a Tier IV. With Elena Dementieva cancellation yesterday with a back injury the tournament could not afford to lose any other high ranked players. So far the following players were injured.

Elena Bovina from Russia with a left toe contusion.

Nathalie Dechy from France has a left quadricep strain.

Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova is out with the flu.

Amelie Mauresmo from France still suffers from a back muscle strain.

A right toe sprain troubles Francesca Schiavone from Italy.

Marlene Weingartner from Germany is having a left foot stress fracture.

Venus Williams from the U.S. is having problems with the flu.

Maria Vento-Kabchi from Venezuela is out with heel pains.

Jennifer Capriati from the U.S. having trouble with a back injury.

Ai Sugiyama from Japan is out with no reported injury and in need for a rest.