Serena Williams and Justine Henin faced off in an unlikely final at the 2010 Australian Open.
After stepping away from the game for nearly two years while still in her prime, former world No. 1 Henin decided to return to action in 2010. In her first tournament back, the Belgian lost to her countrywoman Kim Clijsters in a three-set battle in the final in Brisbane. It was Clijsters’ own comeback a few months prior that culminated with a title at the US Open that inspired Henin’s return.
At the year’s first major, the Australian Open, the unranked Henin put on a vintage performance throughout the fortnight, eventually reaching the final. Along the way, she defeated three seeded players, including Elena Dementieva, in the second round.
Her next opponent would be the most formidable one in the draw.
Williams, the top seed and defending champion, breezed through the first week, only dropping as many as four games in a set once. Her quarterfinal and semifinal matches against Victoria Azarenka and Li Na, respectively, were more difficult affairs as Azarenka pushed her to three sets, while Li went down in a pair of tiebreakers. It was good preparation for a match against Henin, a seven-time Grand Slam champion.