Clijsters faces familiar foe

Johnny Watterson/Roland Garros, Paris:The silly hats are already arriving in thousands across the French border to watch two famous Belgians. And so dies another myth. Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, the world knows who you are.

Some fans are already here in the upper tiers of the stadium bumbling around like court jesters. It will be It's-A-Knockout day in Court Henri Chatrier, a colourful, odd, Belgian party made stranger by the fact there are no Williamses involved. After four consecutive all-Williams finals in Grand Slam events, there is a discernible shift of mood in the women's game.

"I hope other players now believe in their chances when they have to play against Serena," said Henin-Hardenne yesterday. "I think, yeah, it's good because we'll see a different final. I'm pretty happy about that. I think everybody is happy about today but the Williams sisters."

Clijsters is from the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium while Henin-Hardenne speaks French and will probably draw the Parisian support. "I don't know how it's going to be with the public," said Henin-Hardenne. "There are going to be mixed feelings. The fact I'm French-speaking may have some impact."

Just one match when the mouse roared and the emphasis between the two finalists has also distinctly changed. Henin-Hardenne, in beating the world number one, has shifted the thinking going into today's final and may be even a marginal favourite despite the higher ranking of Clijsters. Both have been in Grand Slam finals before, Henin-Hardenne losing to Venus Williams in the 2001 Wimbledon final and Clijsters failing to beat Jennifer Capriati the same year at Roland Garros.

The lines have been well drawn between the two, who grew up playing with and against each other at all levels. Henin-Hardenne has the more complete game as well as a backhand to die for, while Clijsters has in the past been stronger physically and mentally. That could now be in doubt as the Williams factor is overwhelming and Henin-Hardenne is bound to have grown because of it. Of more concern, the suggestion has been made that in the Williams match Henin-Hardenne may have played her final.

"I knew when I won the match there was another to come. I tried to be as serene and calm as possible. I think I managed to control my emotions. There's no problem," she said.

Clijsters enjoys a 7-3 win advantage over her compatriot going back to 2001. Of the three times they have met this year, Clijsters has won twice on synthetic and hard court while 21-year-old Henin-Hardenne won over three sets on clay in Berlin.

Of the two it is Clijsters who cuts the more relaxed figure. Henin-Hardenne frequently speaks about actively controlling her focus, her mental condition and her energy. She is considerably more reserved than the effervescent Clijsters, who laughed through her interview yesterday as if it were a coffee morning with some school pals.

The winner today will be the first non-American champion in a Grand Slam since converted Frenchwoman Mary Pierce won in 2000. Since that win the United States have taken 11 championships in a row distributed among three players: the Williams sisters and Capriati. Now it will be a Belgian. For that they can have their hats with bells.