 Photographer: Paul Zimmer/Ron Angle
Date: 21 Aug 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer/Ron Angle
Date: 21 Aug 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer/Ron Angle
Date: 21 Aug 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer/Ron Angle
Date: 21 Aug 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer/Ron Angle
Date: 21 Aug 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer/Ron Angle
Date: 21 Aug 2004 |
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| 21 Aug 2004 - Olympic Tennis Centre, OAKA, Athens - Craig Gabriel | |
| Women's Round-up, Day Seven: Henin-Hardenne Claims Gold |
Justine Henin-Hardenne came in behind a high looping ball from Amelie Mauresmo. The Belgian took aim in a split second and pummelled the ball into a relatively open court. There was no mistaking things, she had won the point and with it the Olympic gold medal. Henin-Hardenne defeated Mauresmo 63 63 in one hour 18 minutes.
"I still do not realise how I feel," said Henin-Hardenne. "I need a little bit more time to realise what happened. I can tell you it's totally different from a Grand Slam. I cannot tell you if it's better or not because it's a different feeling. I think it's been a great atmosphere the whole week. I had good feelings the whole week.
"Still, a month ago, I didn't know if I was going to be able to come here, and now I won the gold medal. Now I can say that a lot of players have to dream about winning an Olympic gold medal because it's a great moment in your career."
She said she was nervous before the match and she didn't sleep that well the night before but during the match she was calm. It allowed her to play the game she wanted to, such as being aggressive, she served well and came to the net throughout and returned very consistently.
Henin-Hardenne said growing up she dreamed of Grand Slams but on this balmy night she changed her mind.
Mauresmo said she was a bit surprised at the way the Belgian played and Mauresmo realised very early there were problems ahead. She said: "She didn't give me much chance to develop my own game. Well done to her. I take my hat off to her. She did well."
The women's bronze medal was won by Australia's Alicia Molik who took 64 minutes to beat a deflated Anastasia Myskina 63 64.
"I'm not usually an emotional person," said Molik, who is the first Australian woman to win an Olympic singles medal. "I cried after that. I cried right at the end and I think I reduced my team to tears, as well, I'd have to say. It was very emotional and I probably will still be emotional for the rest of the day.
"I guess it's a mixture of satisfaction, it's a mixture of relief, it's a mixture of I guess a reward for hard work and the hours and difficult times that I've had. I guess the time I've dedicated to my sport and tennis, my profession. I love it so much. "So to finally get a reward I guess is an incredible feeling."
The women's doubles bronze medal was claimed by Argentina's Paola Suarez and Patricia Tarabini over Shinoboe Asagoe and Ai Sugiyama 63 63.
> Full Results from Day 7
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