Governing Bodies to Blame for Henin's Retirement

Maria Sharapova, to the surprise of no one, duly took part in a film shoot in Rome on Sunday to publicize the Sony Ericsson women's Tour, one she had threatened to boycott. However it would be untrue to say, unlike most of the others involved, that she actually enjoyed herself. The US-based Russian had been miffed that it had been organized directly before this week's tournament at the Foro Italico, and had made some forthright comments to this effect on her website, thereby ensuring several million more hits, no doubt.

Some folk were interested to know where the shoot had taken place, particularly as Shaz has always expressed an avowed interest in architecture. (If you should happen to bump into her at Wimbledon, you might tackle her on her thoughts concerning Le Corbusier or Frank Lloyd Wright). So where had this shoot been? "I'm not quite sure. I was riding around in a car for an hour talking - pretending like I'm talking on the phone. Yeah, that was pretty much it." Should make for fascinating watching.

Underlying this storm in a Chianti glass was the ongoing attempt by both the WTA and the men's tour to formulate a calendar acceptable to everyone. The WTA has largely cracked this by not expecting their leading players to compete at all. (Well, it often feels that way). Sony Ericsson, whose last quarterly figures brought little but earache to the telephone company, still seem to believe that they have a good deal, though to most outsiders it remains baffling.

Despite this, the out-of-form Justine Henin today announced her immediate retirement from the sport, citing fatigue as the reason. Having written on her website last week that she had been training without any problems and was injury-free, the Belgian was fined £10,000 by the WTA for withdrawing from this week's Italian Open. If Henin found the women's tour tough, she should spare a thought for the men.

The ATP, as ever, bumbles on in its own fashion, assuring everyone who is bothered to listen that all will be well, while producing publicity material, posters and the like, that appear to have been formulated by someone devoid of the least understanding of what the game is about. Meanwhile the players bitch and carp, as is the way of the rich.

Most of this year's problems centre on the Olympics, which every four years congests the schedule and has the players in a froth of indignation. The complainer-in-chief this time around has been Spain's Rafael Nadal, who has seen his beloved clay-court season constricted, and his No2 spot squeezed as Serbia's Novak Djokovic powers in behind him.

Rafa's beef is understandable, although it has tended to obscure the more obvious truth that his body (and when did you see an arm like that outside the weightlifting arena?) had been cracking up under the strain, and the last few weeks have compounded a long-term fitness issue. It would be a massive pity if the thoroughly likable young Spaniard's career turned out to be a brilliant but short-lived flame like Henin's, although it is beginning to appear that way.

So is the calendar to blame? The answer has to be no. Rafa is probably correct in his assertion that to play three Masters series on clay in the space of four weeks is too much. But in between he chose to compete in Barcelona, which he could have missed, while he took part in the doubles in Monte Carlo, which he had no need to. The trouble is, as ever, that the players want it all ways, while the governing bodies that run the game remain fragmented, and often at odds with each other.

One day tennis may get the infrastructure and the quality of leadership that it deserves. Until then, and disregarding the four slams, it will, as ever, mend and make do.