The unexpected retirement of number one
Justine Henin cast a pall Wednesday over the WTA Rome Masters, with top seed
Ana Ivanovic crashing to a disheartening defeat in her opening match.
The sombre Serb admitted that she could find no energy in a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 loss
to qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova.
Maria Sharapova, poised to battle for the top ranking as Henin inevitably fades
over coming weeks, fought through to open with a win over Czech Dominika
Cibulkova 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova beat fellow Russian Olga Govortsova 6-2, 6-0
while holder Jelena Jankovic, the Serbian fourth seed, beat Italian Pennetta
6-1, 6-4 after admitting that she spent the weekend in a Belgrade hospital for
tests.
"I got sick in Berlin, and I back home, I wasn't feeling well. I had no
energy, and I couldn't get up," she said. "I'm now starting to feel
better. I'm still on antibiotics, and I'm taking medicine. I just want to be
healthy, and I want to enjoy the matches and not thinking about health."
The retirement of Henin overshadowed the day. The Williams sisters, with Venus
competing for the first time since April 1 after an undisclosed medical
problem, both romped to victories as one of their biggest rivals quit the game
effective immediately, to start what she called another phase of her life.
Fifth seed Serena stopped Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko 6-2, 6-0, while
seventh-seeded elder sibling Venus overcame Australian Samantha Stosur 6-4,
6-1.
Tennis was clearly in shock as the 25-year-old Henin, a seven-time Grand Slam
champion, quit the sport at the height of her powers.
"If she made that decision, then it's probably the best decision for
her," said Venus, the defending Wimbledon champion.
"My prayers are with her so that way she can continue to lead the life
that's best for her. She was a great opponent who always challenged herself to
play her best tennis, no matter what the circumstances. She was just a real
fighter. That was really what made her her best."
Ivanovic, 20, said she could not imagine a similar scenario for herself - even
in the depths of a bad defeat.
"The news is very surprising, but my goals haven't changed about my
position, where I stand," said the number three, runnerup to the Belgian
last year at Roland Garros.
"Working hard is something that drives me and motivates me," said the
Serb, who lost the Australian Open final in January against Rome second seed
Sharapova.
"Obviously I still have so many things I want to achieve. To achieve these
things, I'm certainly not thinking about retirement at all."
The loss to Pironkova in two hours, 21 minutes was a huge distraction for
Ivanovic, in only her second appearance at the Foro Italico after a 2005 debut
that lasted into the third round.
The win was the second over a major name for the Bulgarian, ranked 64th, who
shocked Venus Williams in the Australian Open first round in 2006 with a 9-7
third set.
"This is one of the best matches I ever played," Pironkova said.
"She wasn't very sure with her game. I wanted to put the ball in the
court, deep in the court, and I did a good job with it."
Ivanovic saved a match point in the final game before falling victim to a
backhand pass, one game after Pironkova gently lifted a stray lizard off of the
clay to applause before a point.
"I just didn't have enough intensity today, and I'm very frustrated with
myself and obviously disappointed," said the top seed.
"She played quite well in the third set. I made too many errors, too soon
in the rallies. Now I have about 10 days to prepare for the French Open."
Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli hammered French compatriot Virginie Razzano
6-4, 7-5 while Swiss Patty Schnyder, playing her second match of the day due to
Tuesday rain, beat Virginia Ruano Pascal 6-1, 6-0.
Russian 10th seed Vera Zvonareva advanced over Czech Iveta Benesova 7-5, 4-6,
7-5 while Poland's number 12 Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Italian Roberta Vinci
3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Sara Errani flew the home colours, though, upsetting number 11 Hungarian Agnes
Szavay 6-0, 6-3, dpa reported.
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