There are few in the history of tennis who would have been able to compete with stars like Serena and Venus Williams, and there were not many within their generation who managed to do so.
It’s a testament to their dominant and relentless success that the time between their first Grand Slam title, won by Serena in 1999, and their last, again won by Serena in 2017, spans 18 years.
In between that time, they racked up a combined tally of 30 majors, as two of the most successful tennis players in the history of the game.
And yet, there was actually one player who continued to thwart Serena on the biggest of stages, with Justine Henin a constant thorn in the side of the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Justine Henin: Serena Williams’ greatest rival?
For many, Henin was regarded as Serena Williams’ greatest-ever rival alongside Venus, given the fact that the Belgian truly pushed the legendary American for a huge chunk of her career before her early retirement.
It’s telling that, when Serena lost the world number one in 2002, it coincided with Henin’s first-ever Grand Slam title. And then, when she snatched that top spot back in 2008, it also came at the same time as Henin’s decline.
During that period, the 43-year-old, born in Liege, won more majors (7 v 4), had a positive head-to-head of five wins and three losses, and an even more impressive record of four wins and one loss in Grand Slams against one another.
Naturally, there are alternative factors to consider for this period, such as Williams’ torrid injury record coinciding with Henin’s peak.
With that in mind, many can argue for Venus, and it would be a valid claim.
But Henin, with a patented one-handed backhand that John McEnroe dubbed the best of all time, certainly deserves to be in the conversation for Serena’s greatest rival.
Why was Justine Henin forced to retire at just 28?
Frustratingly for Henin, her career was cut cruelly short in 2011 when she finally called time on a glittering career.
Having won seven Grand Slam titles, including a magical 2007 run to the US Open title where she beat both Serena and Venus on her way to the final, she is widely regarded as one of the best players of her generation.
In early January of 2011 though, at just 28 years of age, she cited a chronic elbow injury as the reason behind her decision to quit tennis.
All of Justine Henin’s Grand Slam singles titles
| Tournament | Year | Player faced in final | Score |
| US Open | 2007 | Svetlana Kuznetsova | 6-1, 6-3 |
| French Open | 2007 | Ana Ivanovic | 6-1, 6-2 |
| French Open | 2006 | Svetlana Kuznetsova | 6-4, 6-4 |
| French Open | 2005 | Mary Pierce | 6-1, 6-1 |
| Australian Open | 2004 | Kim Clijsters | 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 |
| US Open | 2003 | Kim Clijsters | 7-5, 6-1 |
| French Open | 2003 | Kim Clijsters | 6-0, 6-4 |
She claimed: ‘In these recent months I have rarely been spared of the pain. The doctors told me my elbow is too fragile and therefore I cannot continue my profession at this high level.
‘I’m in shock, of course. After having considered the advice of doctors, it is now clear and accepted that my career finally ends.’
Regardless of the frustrating nature of Henin’s retirement, she is still remembered fondly over a decade on from such a sad decision.
