Gut-Check Time in Paris

By Lisa Dillman

June 10, 2006 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

PARIS —

One day before playing the Australian Open final in January, Justine Henin-Hardenne said it was the best she had felt, physically, in two years.

Tennis fans know what happened next.

Henin-Hardenne retired in the second set of the final against Amelie Mauresmo because of stomach pains, apparently caused by taking too many anti-inflammatory pills. She was hit by a wave of criticism, and some believed she robbed Mauresmo of a championship moment.

On Friday, the fifth-seeded Henin-Hardenne avoided making a similar pronouncement of good health, but the Belgian said she would be fine for today’s French Open final against No. 8 Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, who is in her first Grand Slam final since winning the 2004 U.S. Open. The defending champion is 10-1 against Kuznetsova.

The Melbourne incident could not be dodged completely by Henin-Hardenne, who will be trying for her third French Open title and fifth Grand Slam singles championship.

“Well, I think I may have digested that -- wrong choice of word by the way,” she said in French, according to the translation of her remarks. “But it was a difficult moment. I’m pushing it away from my memory. I have a new chance” today.

Lindsay Davenport of Laguna Beach, a Wimbledon finalist last year who has been out with an injured back, is in doubt for that tournament, according to her agent.

“To be honest, it’s up in the air,” said Tony Godsick of IMG.

Nadal vs. Federer

Rafael Nadal has a 5-1 record (and 3-0 on clay) against Roger Federer:

* 2006 ATP Masters Series Rome, Italian Open (clay): Nadal wins final, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5).

* 2006 ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo (clay): Nadal wins final, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (5).

* 2006 Dubai (hard court): Nadal wins final, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

* 2005 French Open (clay): Nadal wins semifinal, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

* 2005 ATP Masters Series, Miami (hard court): Federer wins final, 2-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-1.

* 2004 ATP Masters Series, Miami (hard court): Nadal wins in round of 32, 6-3, 6-3.