"Henin scammed her way into her first Grand Slam final": Tennis fans look back on controversial Serena Williams-Justine Henin French Open semi-final

Monday, 12 June 2023 at 01:05

Fans reminisced and criticized the controversial semifinal match of the 2003 French Open between Serena Williams and Justine Henin.

During that time, Serena Williams held the position of world No. 1 and boasted an impressive streak of four consecutive Grand Slam victories (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open in 2002, followed by the 2023 Australian Open).

Williams entered the match as the overwhelming favorite. Justine Henin, a Belgian player, held the 4th seed and had recently defeated the American in the final of the Charleston tournament.

In a tightly contested match, the 23-time Grand Slam champion found herself serving in the third set with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 4-2. At that crucial moment, Henin made a hand gesture to halt the play as the crowd fell silent, causing Williams to falter on her first serve.

Sensing the disruption, Williams requested the referee to grant her a second serve due to Henin's gesture. However, the referee failed to notice the gesture, and Henin remained silent, much to Serena's profound dismay.

Henin capitalized on the momentum shift and rallied to claim the third set 7-5, securing her spot in the final where she ultimately triumphed over Kim Clijsters, securing her first-ever Grand Slam title.

Tennis Historian

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20 years ago: Serena Williams and Justine Henin-Hardenne clashed in the French Open SF The infamous "hand incident" made headlines around the world and created one of the biggest rivalries of this era. Henin's win ended Serena's 33-match win streak in majors 🎥: Roland-Garros

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4:30 PM · Jun 8, 2023

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7:58 PM · Jun 8, 2023

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Replying to @HistorianTennis

Unpopular opinion: Henin was is technically better and more skillful player than Serena. A big fan of her one handed backhand..

5:28 PM · Jun 8, 2023

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Justine Henin and Serena Williams had one of the greatest rivalries of their time, which ended with an 8-6 record in favor of Williams. However, Henin is tied as the second player to have defeated Serena the most times (alongside Martina Hingis), trailing behind her older sister Venus Williams (with 12 victories).

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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