Justine Henin: 'Serena Williams could make you feel so small' - Legends' Voice

Twenty years ago, Justine Henin won in Paris her first-ever Grand Slam title just days after her 21st birthday. In Legends' Voice, the Eurosport expert reflects on that incredible achievement at Roland-Garros. — — - Ad If I start to remember Roland-Garros 2003, the first thing that comes to my mind is how I felt when I arrived in Paris that year, because something had really clicked a few weeks before.

I had started working with Pat Etcheberry [famous Floridian fitness trainer] in November of the previous year. Physically I was on the right track and I was making progress. But I had suffered a real setback in Antwerp in February losing to Kim Clijsters.

I was still being pulled back far behind the baseline by an imaginary elastic band. We had to have a big discussion with Carlos Rodriguez, my coach. I had lost badly.

I couldn't play my game.  WTA MiamiRybakina emulates notable Williams feat, Pegula edges thriller in Miami29/03/2023 AT 08:16 When we arrived in Dubai, we had a long talk with Carlos. Basically, the nature of his message was ‘how long are you going to continue playing like that at key moments in matches?’ He was right. I was so constrained.

That conversation changed a lot of things for the rest of my career. From then on, I started to free myself and played with confidence and authority. That year I won in Charleston, beating Serena Williams in the final.

I played well in Berlin and won the title. I was having good results, but I was not coming to Roland-Garros thinking 'I'm under pressure because I played well', not at all! I had gone through a big setback in 2001, losing to Clijsters in the semis after leading 6-1 4-2. But I was not ready then.