Henin stops Venus for sweep of Williamses

NEW YORK -- One player had problems breathing and left the court after the first set.

Her opponent later grew dizzy, had problems keeping her balance, needed to have her pulse checked and temperature taken during a changeover in the second here on a breezy Friday.

For the winner: A spot in the U.S. Open final tonight against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

For the vanquished: A possible trip to Rochester, Minn. . . . and the Mayo Clinic. Not Disneyland.

Top-seeded and French Open winner Justine Henin was the former, and reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams was the latter. Henin defeated No. 12 Williams in a compelling contest of shot-making, 7-6 (2), 6-4, in just under two hours. Earlier, No. 4 Kuznetsova won an erratic semifinal against No. 6 Anna Chakvetadze, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, which included a combined 13 service breaks.

That featured almost none of the inspirational qualities of Williams-Henin.

Henin, who beat Serena Williams in the quarterfinals, became the first player to defeat the Williams sisters in the same Grand Slam event since Martina Hingis at the 2001 Australian Open. Hingis lost to Jennifer Capriati in the final.

“I don’t think a lot of people thought I could beat her in this tournament,” Henin said. “I was really proud. It’s not easy to play Serena and Venus.”

Henin had defeated Venus only once in eight meetings before Friday, though they had not played in about 4 1/2 years. So was Henin one of the doubters of herself all those years ago?

“Yeah, probably,” she said. “I didn’t believe in myself, didn’t trust myself enough in the last few years against them. And this year, a lot of things have changed. I trust myself much more. I still have a lot of respect, but I’m not scared anymore.”

Henin’s journey is remarkable in its own right. She missed the Australian Open because of her divorce, reunited with estranged family members and has shown new lightness and spirit.

That, coupled with the medical issues, had the semifinals at the U.S. Open looking like a pilot for new reality series. Or just another day on the women’s tennis tour.

“Normally, when you get hurt or sick in a match there’s nothing that can be done,” Williams said. “You have to just get through it. I did my best.”

Later, Henin was told that Venus said she was not 100%.

“I’m surprised,” Henin said, smiling. Asked if she was disappointed that Venus was talking about her health, Henin responded: “No, I don’t care. I mean, I’m focused on myself and I don’t care. I just want to be a little bit -- no more comment about that. It’s better.”

Henin elaborated on her own problems, having to leave the court after winning the taut first set in an entertaining tiebreaker. Nerves hit her too as she let Williams back in the second set after holding a 3-0 lead.

“I had the feeling we were both fighting a lot,” Henin said. “I had some breathing problems for a couple of months, but much more the last two, three days. I saw the doctor also. I could say I wasn’t 100%, but I was fighting on every point with my qualities today.”

Venus’ mother, Oracene Price, said that Venus was diagnosed with anemia after Wimbledon and started having issues with dizziness first in San Diego this summer and then here.

“Today, I guess it came back,” Price said. “She feels like the ground is moving. . . . I want her to go to the Mayo Clinic.”

Golfer Hank Kuehne, Venus’ boyfriend, said he “hated” having to watch her go through the difficulties on the court. He comforted her in the hallway after her news conference, and Venus walked toward the locker room with her arm around him and leaned on him.

“It’s difficult. I want to do everything I can to try to help,” he said.

Still, Venus, who credited Henin with playing well, had her moments of good cheer especially when she spoke about having to hide her medical condition from her younger sister. And Oracene didn’t give it up to Serena, either.

Said Venus, smiling: “I mean, Serena was my opponent in the draw too. I didn’t tell her how I was feeling. I never tell. I think she was having something and she didn’t tell me. And I found out through someone else she was having problems. We love each other, but we’re competing. We don’t tell each other what’s happening.”

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lisa.dillman@latimes.com