Who Is The Second Best Female Tennis Player Of Her Generation Is It Justine or Venus?
Justine Henin has returned to the WTA tour this week she is competing in the Brisbane international in Brisbane Australia. According to media reports, Justine says she her main goal is to win Wimbledon the only grand slam she has never won. In the year 2001, Justine reached her first grand slam final at Wimbledon losing to Venus 6-1 3-6 6-0. In 2006, Amelie Mauresmo of France defeated Justine in the Wimbledon final in a 2-6 6-3 6-4.
Justine Henin and Venus Williams career statistics are very similar. Justine and Venus are almost even in terms of their tennis careers. However, Justine is the superior player because she is more consistent than Venus. For instance, Justine has been number one for 117 weeks and Venus has only been number one for 11 weeks. Justine has won one Australian Open, four French Opens, and two US Open tennis championships. Venus has won five Wimbledon singles titles and two US Open singles titles. Venus and Justine have both won 41 WTA singles titles.
In terms of mental toughness, I give Justine the slight edge because she is not afraid of Serena. Venus just capitulates most of the time against Serena and loses her resolve. Yes, I know Serena is Venus younger sister, but Venus has a horrible record against Serena in grand slam finals. Venus has a losing record of 2-6 against Serena in grand slam finals. Justine has a winning record against Serena in the grand slams 4-2.
Justine is different, she is not intimidated by Serena and she has the game to beat her. Justine has finesse in her game, she can to change the pace with the ball and take Serena out of her rhythm.
Gayblackcanada 
Hi Orville, I know that you wrote this a month ago, but I’m catching up on some of your posts since I’m somewhat new to your site.
I thought I was the only one who recognized how similar Venus’s career statistics are to those of Justine Henin as far as singles is concerned. They have both won 41 career titles, 7 grand slams, an Olympic gold medal and been number 1 in the world. The similarities are intriguing.
At the moment, I think that Henin is playing better tennis than Venus. However, I would place them both at joint number 2 behind Serena as the best players of their generation. Perhaps Henin does have a more consistent game than Venus, but that doesn’t make her a better player than Venus.
Out of all the players that have ever existed, Venus has had the most severe injuries (abdominal strain, wrist injury, knee injury, shoulder,…). The only players that I would put in the same category as Venus, in terms of injury, are Chanda Rubin, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, Serena & perhaps Maria Sharapova.
In 2004, Henin did have a virus that kept her out of action for 6 months, but that’s the only time I remember her being inactive due to health reasons, so she really had no excuse for not having so much on-court success.
On the other hand, Venus’s injuries have prevented her from having more success.
I don’t think that Venus has a problem facing Serena. The last few times they have played, Serena beat an injured Venus. Otherwise, the head-to-head is close (13-10 in Serena’s favour).
During the period in which Henin beat Serena in 3 consecutive grand slam quarter-finals in 2007, Serena wasn’t physically fit (limited preparation at the French Open due to groin injury, a leg injury and thumb injury at Wimbledon, recurrance of the knee problem at the US Open) so a physically fit Henin was supposed to beat an ailing Serena.
Therefore, I wouldn’t consider Henin a better player than Venus because Venus has had more burdens.
Sorry for the long comment. 🙂
Hi Ashley, thanks for your comment. I do see your point about Venus injuries prevented her from maximizing her potential because she is tall and lean she is more fragile. However, I feel that Venus is also fragile in the head as well. Venus has a history of choking matches.
Remember the Na Li match at the Australian Open Venus actually had a 6-2 5-3 lead and LOST. I am convinced Venus was afraid of facing Serena in the semifinals. I feel that Venus is on her way out. Henin can win more slams I think Venus is finished.
I don’t remember Henin having mental breakdowns like Venus has against opponents. Venus has also lost six slam finals against Serena and I do not believe Henin would ever lose six slams to Serena.
I think Serena is very lucky Venus is her older and loving sister. Venus loves Serena more than Serena loves Venus. Serena has a killer instinct and she wants to beat everybody. Serena is also a sore loser.
Yes, Serena is a superior player than Venus both technically and physically.
However, I think it is because they are sisters that’s the reason Venus feels sorry for Serena sometimes. The emotional issues get to Venus more. I think if Venus and Serena were not sisters I think Venus would have a killer instinct and would definitely have won more than just two out of the eight slam finals they competed in.