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Hot favourite for Aussie glory Henin is "better" than Federer

originally published Dec 7 2007 on betting.betfair.com

Scott's Spot - Scott looks at Henin's unbelievable year in 2007 and why you're best off backing her for the Aussie Open now

The Australian Open final is under two months away and recently we've been taking an early look at who is likely to be a contender in the Rod Laver Arena. I've taken a look at the women's lineup.

Justine Henin landed every prize on her schedule in 2007 in an amazing performance. After the breakup of her marriage kept her away from Melbourne, she lost just FOUR times for the rest of the year - to Safarova in first event back in February, Serena in Miami, Kuznetsova in Berlin and Bartoli in that unbelievable semi at Wimbledon. Since Wimbledon, she has won 25 matches in a row and has dropped just three sets.

This is as close to domination in the women's game since the best set of legs ever to grace a tennis court, Steffi Graf, reigned in the early 90s. While all the plaudits go to Federer, it's worth noting that his season record was 68-9. Henin's tally for the year was 63-4. One of them is priced at 1.66, the other at 2.3.

Onto Melbourne - what's her record like there? What's she likely to do during the northern winter? Well, let's face it - she's hardly likely to spend a month in a Krispy Kreme or McDonalds and put on two stone in weight. In the past she has headed to Australia early, played one preliminary event (Sydney) , won it (2004 and 2006) and then gone onto reach the Australian Open final - winner 2004, runner-up in 2006. She missed 2005 due to injury.

Whilst Henin goes from strength to strength, the chasing pack is a little less convincing.


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