Henin shakes off early nerves(1/1/2002)

GOLD COAST, Jan 1 AAP - Belgian world No.7 Justine Henin has blamed the burden of fame for a shaky start to her New Year at the Australian Women's Hardcourt Championship.

The 19-year-old was the most improved player in the WTA Tour last year after taking the Gold Coast title on the road to her Wimbledon showdown with world No.3 Venus Williams. But after leaving snowy Belgium last week with more muscle, cash and silverware than she had dreamed of a year ago, Henin found her form slowly ebbing against fast-improving Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.

The second-seed won the second-round encounter 1-6 6-0 6-3 but only after shrugging off the heavy expectations she has placed on herself for the year to come. "I am a little bit more nervous than I was last year because I had nothing to lose but I will need a little bit of time to understand this new player that I am," Henin said.

"I was nervous at 5-3 and I wanted so much to finish the match because I was a little bit afraid that she would come back. I'm No.7 and I was 50 last year. It is a lot for a young person. I just try to do my best. I just need matches. I think my game is okay and I can feel it in practice but I need matches to find confidence."

Just yesterday, Henin revealed her hopes to burst into the top 3 and with coach Carlos Rodriguez, who took her on as a 14 year old, has embarked on a weights program to combat the all-powerful Williams sister, Serena and Venus.

Henin's tiny frame is also dwarfed by the giants of the US, world No.1 Lindsay Davenport and No.2 Jennifer Capriati. After handing Hantuchova the first set, Henin pounded the Slovak teen with her fast, kicking serve to win 11 straight games, running away with the second set.

The lanky 18-year-old, who made the second round of Wimbledon this year, held her serve at 5-1 before breaking Henin for the first time in the match at 5-2. Organisers are pinning their hopes on a Wimbledon final rematch between Henin and Williams, who was also given a first round bye and faces Switzerland's Patty Schnyder tomorrow.

Australia's Nicole Pratt is also facing her chance to reach the quarter-final with a clash against German qualifier Anca Barna, who upset sixth-seeded Italian Rita Grande yesterday.

from tennisautralia.com.au