The Two Faces of Belgium

Justine Henin-Hardenne pretty much waltzed into the semifinals of Roland Garros, but I’d send in the anti-mine crew to run the sweeper over the red clay, because Champagne Kimmy Clijsters has been digging around out there, trying to plant a few surprises meant to blow up in Justine’s face at the right moment – right around 4 P.M. on Thursday.

And I got this from Justine!

Check out this comment in the presser after The Little Backhand that Quit dispatched Ana Lena How on Earth Do You Spell Groenefeld(?):

I'm certain that Kim has told you that I would be the favorite on paper, in theory. I think it will be 50/50 on Thursday. It will be wonderful because in any case we'll have a Belgian player in the final, which is a victory. We both hope to be that player

Mais, Justine! Are you suggesting that Champagne Kimmy is indulging in un peu gamesmanship?

She went on:

This is what we all do. If she says that clay isn't her favorite surface (Pete’s note: as she did earlier this week), she was here in the final twice. She's in the semifinals this year. She's won tournaments on clay. I don't really believe this. That's not a problem.

Why, Justine, how frank of you! Thankfully, you, little wonder with the will of iron and the weak tummy, would never try to turn the tables, engage in a little smack talk or psychic warfare, would you?

We are all, of course, extremely careful. We all try to put pressure onto the other player. We'll both be under pressure. Everybody expects a lot from this match. It will be the one of us who deals better with this who will have a better chance of winning.

Anyone hear a gauntlet striking the ground?

Naw. Champagne Kimmy and TLBTQ are now best of friends, according to Henha. Why, Kim almost wished her happy birthday the other day! A reporter asked about that and she said, laughing: “Isn’t it her birthday soon?”

Man, the meaning of that is harder to crack than the Da Vinci code!

When the pressman (presumably, an expert on Belgian player birthdays) said Kimmy’s birthday will be on the day of the match, Henha replied, once again smiling: “Well, I’ll wait until after the match.”

Hmmm. . .

After a pause, she added: