Justine Henin's decision to quit tennis so abruptly remains a puzzle for the moment, a bizarre decision from one of the more unique individuals in tennis. But what does her immediate and shocking departure mean for the game? Without Henin, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour is missing the most professional and devoted player during an era known for producing stars but not tunnel-visioned champions. Henin was all about winning tournaments and squeezing every bit of potential out of her fragile mind and body. Her absence means a major reshuffle in the tour's balance of power.
While women's tennis was wide open even with Henin in the mix, it's now a roll of the dice to figure out who will win any given event. The top players don't compete enough to dominate the Grand Slam circuit, and the up-and-comers have yet to assert themselves when it matters most. The No. 2 player in the world (now the de facto No. 1), Maria Sharapova, has demonstrated true grit on the court, but her body has betrayed her. Serena Williams has had health issues, too, and her focus on the game has waxed and waned. Only two other players in the Top 10 who have won majors, Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004 U.S. Open) and Venus Williams (four Wimbledons and two U.S. Opens), and neither has posted consistently strong performances over the last few years.
With such a wide-open field, players like Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Anna Chakvetadze, should be licking their chops. It¹s hard to imagine a better time to nick your first Grand Slam title before another dominant champion like Henin emerges. But do any of these players have the mental toughness and physical gifts to fill the void? Ivanovic probably comes closest, but she has a long way to go in both departments. What made Henin great was, among other things, her ability to handle the pressure of playing on the game's biggest stages. Serena and Sharapova also relish Grand Slam finals, but no other players are poised to pick up that mantle.
Of course, the tour isn't just losing its No. 1 player. It's losing an artist. Henin was to women's tennis what Federer is to the men's - an all-court maestro with all the shots in the textbook, and quite a few that aren't. Even when Henin and Federer are crushing their opposition, their games remain aesthetically pleasing to watch. Can that be said that about any other top player, man or woman? The WTA tour loves to promote its eye-candy but the real eye-candy for tennis aficionados has always been Henin's smooth and stylish game. On a tour dominated by monotonous power tennis, Henin showed there was still a place for volleys rather than swing volleys, and slice backhands rather than two-handed drives.
Amelie Maursemo has a similarly beautiful, if less effectively powerful, game, but she is fading quickly and may not be too far from retirement herself. Martina Hingis, a cagey counter-puncher—gone. Ivanovic hits a clean ball that appeals to purists, yet she’s still in the mold of the “Big Babe Tennis” popularized by Jennifer Capriati and Monica Seles. Anna Chakvetadze is one of the few younger players with variety, but has been sliding of late.
Women's tennis may have a surplus of pretty faces, but it's just lost one of the prettiest games ever.