"Serena & Venus Williams had attitudes that were sometimes difficult" - When Justine Henin opened up on facing duo after French Open controversy

Justine Henin once spoke about facing Serena and Venus Williams following the controversial 2003 French Open incident. It took place between the Belgian and the younger Williams sister.

At Roland Garros that year, Henin and Serena met in the semifinals in what was their seventh encounter on the WTA Tour. Henin took the opening set 6-2, but the defending champion bounced back in the second set, winning it 6-4.

Serena was leading 4-2 in the final set, and at 15-0, the chair umpire ruled a forehand by Henin out, which displeased the Belgian and the crowd, resulting in boos.

During Serena's service game at 30-0, Henin raised her hand to indicate she wasn't ready, and her opponent's serve went into the net. The American expected to replay her first serve, but the chair umpire didn't see Henin raise her hand, and the Belgian remained silent as well.

Justine Henin went on to win the match 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 and subsequently the tournament by defeating Kim Clijsters in the final in an all-Belgian clash, securing her first Grand Slam title.

Years later, in 2011, during an interview with Belgian TV after her retirement, Henin reminisced about the controversial incident, admitting that it was not her "best memory." She added that if she had known Serena didn't see the hand gesture, she would have reacted differently.

"I think she saw it and she was disturbed by that," Henin said. "There is a lot of tension, actions are a bit by instinct. So it's true that it is not the best memory."

"If I had been convinced that she had seen it, had been bothered by it, I might have reacted. But you react on instinct. At the same time what happened was magic. I don't know if that changed the match. I hope I’m not saying that in bad faith," she added.

The seven-time Major champion then spoke of the Williams sisters:

"Maybe it was a way to give me respect, because you know that Williams have an attitude, sometimes difficult. They play with a lot of intimidation. The Williams had attitudes that were sometimes difficult. Today, it doesn’t scare me anymore. When they walked on the court, the other one was already there at her side. It was a big moment in my career, in the history of Roland Garros, too."

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Justine Henin has head-to-head disadvantage against Serena and Venus Williams

Justine Henin shakes hands with Serena Williams at the 2003 French Open

Justine Henin has a disadvantageous head-to-head record against both Serena and Venus Williams.

Henin and Serena faced each other 14 times on the WTA Tour, with the latter holding an 8-6 lead over the former. Their first meeting occurred at the fourth round of the US Open in 2001, which Serena won in straight sets. The 23-time Grand Slam champion also emerged victorious in their last encounter, which took place in the final of the Australian Open nine years later.

Meanwhile, Henin and Venus crossed paths nine times, with the American holding a 7-2 lead over the Belgian. Four of these meetings occurred at Majors, where Venus reigns supreme (3-1).