Justine Henin World No. 1 Date of Birth: 01.06.1982 Country: Belgium

1. The Decline of the Williams Sisters
2. The 2003 French Open and US Open
3. Henin-Hardenne's Legacy
4. A Challenging Tournament
5. Henin-Hardenne's Struggles and Triumph
6. Clijsters' First Slam Title
7. The New World Order

The Reign of Belgian Tennis: Justine Henin-Hardenne Triumphs at the US Open

The Decline of the Williams Sisters

Gone are the days of the endless "Williams vs. Williams" finals that dominated women's tennis. A new era has dawned, and it belongs to the Belgian duo of Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne.

The 2003 French Open and US Open

In July, Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne, then ranked third, faced off in the final of the French Open. In a surprising turn of events, Henin-Hardenne emerged victorious. The two met once again in the final of the US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the season, marking the first time since 1999 that the tournament had not featured the Williams sisters.

Henin-Hardenne's Legacy

Both finals ended in triumphs for Henin-Hardenne, cementing her status as the undisputed best female tennis player in the world. The 21-year-old's victory at the US Open served as a testament to her resilience in the face of adversity.

A Challenging Tournament

This year's US Open was a difficult one for many players, including Henin-Hardenne. Tropical rainstorms plagued the tournament, repeatedly delaying matches and disrupting schedules. Russian tennis star Anastasia Myskina's match against French player Marie Pierce lasted an incredible four days.

Henin-Hardenne's Struggles and Triumph

Henin-Hardenne faced her own set of challenges, including a pinched nerve and dehydration. After a grueling three-hour semi-final against Jennifer Capriati, she was hospitalized and placed on an IV. Despite her health concerns, she rallied to defeat Clijsters in the final.

Clijsters' First Slam Title

Had Henin-Hardenne been unable to play, Clijsters would have automatically won her first Grand Slam title and a $1 million prize. However, Henin-Hardenne proved her mettle and emerged victorious.

The New World Order

Henin-Hardenne's win marked her fifth victory over Clijsters. Despite her loss in New York, Clijsters maintains her number one ranking in the WTA rankings. However, it seems that the Belgian duo will continue to dominate the top of the rankings for the foreseeable future.