Bad News: Henin out of French Open; Good News: Eastbourne awaits??

As much as I like Sam Stosur - and admire how she's starting to fulfil her game's massive potential - I'm devastated Justine Henin's out of the French Open. I know I'm far from the only person who finds her the most thrilling player to watch from this generation, man or woman. Her return to the sport's been my greatest joy of the tennis year so far.
"The female Federer" is the familiar description for her creativity, but the difference is the visual "triumph against adversity" factor that always adds extra spice. Unlike Federer, her great shots do not look effortless, and her arrival at the top level of the game when it was appearing that talent might count for nothing if you weren't 6ft tall, was inspirational. Her sudden, shock decision to retire as world no. 1 in 2008 left a gaping hole in the women's game, that only her return has filled. Mixing old school flare with the modern style ("go for your shots, hit huge forehands and backhands, murder any weak second serve") has seen her become both a happy throwback and a pioneer. I'm gutted she won't be winning her fifth Roland Garros crown and eighth Grand Slam title this week.
But there may -and it's only a may - be a good side to this for Eastbourne tennis fans. Although I thought it quite likely Henin would make a late entry to Eastbourne even if she won the French, there's been suggestions that playing Eastbourne so soon after winning in Paris in '06 and '07 hurt her Wimbledon chances. Both years she won the Eastbourne final 7-6 in the third, but lost winnable matches at SW19 - to Amelie Mauresmo in the '06 final and Marion Bartoli in the '07 semis. Both times she suggested that she didn't have enough energy left.
Yet Justine is a player who generally needs more match play than some to acclimatise to a new surface. Winning the one Grand Slam to so far elude her has been her biggest stated goal for her second career. So she'll no doubt be thinking carefully about how best to prepare for her Wimbledon assault. Here's hoping a wildcard at Eastbourne is part of her plans.

The Surprise Rezai Factor

When the entry list for the women's event at this year's Eastbourne tournament was announced a few weeks ago, the name "Aravane Rezai" wasn't exactly the first one that most of us noticed. But after her astounding win in Madrid - coming from a set down to dismiss Henin in the first round, right through to demolishing Venus in the final - she is certainly an eagerly anticipated arrival to the pre-Wimbledon event. Aged 23 and ranked 24 at the start of the Madrid tournament three weeks ago, it was stunning that her phenomenal power finally became consistent. "I don't think I've ever played someone that hits the ball so hard on every shot," said Jankovic, another of her victims that week. "If she keeps this up, she will be unplayable," said a commentator, adding that it's a major "if".
Personally, I'd be extremely surprised if she becomes a multiple Grand Slam winner, but out of almost nowhere she's arguably the most exciting "new" player in the women's game. How consistent she can be is the big question. More will be known after her big match against Nadia Petrova (another Eastbourne title contender) in front of her home crowd at the French Open tomorrow, but win or lose, she's a thrilling prospect.

Eastbourne Gets Ready

I've just received an email from Eastbourne Borough Council, highlighting the town being recently confirmed the official sunniest place on mainland Britain, and Virgin Money Travel Insurance naming the town the UK's most holiday-friendly resort. Not the sunniest day today, but probably more brightness, and certainly less rain, than at the French Open. The legendary wind, so often commented on by the tennis stars who've played at the tournament, has been cold, a major contrast to last weekend and the summer's first mini heatwave.
But despite the predictable unpredictability of the British weather, it feels like the summer season is in full swing. The Borough Council's newsletter publicised the Bandstand Concerts, the tourist attractions and, of course, the "hugely exciting" tennis tournament returning to Devonshire Park. The photograph they show of the sun-drenched tennis courts isn't hopelessly unrealistic, given the dry and mainly sunny weather the tournament's been blessed with for most of the last decade. During tennis week in 2007, when most of the country was rained on, Eastbourne remained protected by the micro-climate from the surrounding downland for the entire tournament. Here's hoping we're blessed with the same good fortune this year!
As the first UK coalition government since the Second World War beds down, I reflect on going to cast my vote at my local church hall in the General Election just a few weeks ago, and then taking a walk round to Devonshire Park. Each May, with the Centre Court South Stand not yet erected, it's hard to imagine that it's just a few weeks before this quiet park is filled with thousands of people, picnics on the grass, the strawberry's and cream atmosphere of a mini-Wimbledon and, of course, some top class tennis.