Tennis-Wimbledon-Paris row with Henin is forgotten, says Serena

Serena Williams said her French Open row with Justine Henin-Hardenne was a distant memory on Tuesday after setting up a rematch with the Belgian in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

Williams beat compatriot Jennifer Capriati 2-6 6-2 6-3 in the quarter-finals and will now meet Henin, who beat her in an acrimonious semi-final in Paris last month that ended with the American in tears and accusing Henin of "lying and fabricating".

"What happened in Paris stayed in Paris," Williams said. "That was a long time ago for me. I don't even remember."

"This is the semi-final of Wimbledon. I will go in with the mindset of trying to reach the finals, that's all I'm thinking about. I'm just going to play the game and enjoy myself and have fun."

Williams said she had briefly spoken to Henin in the locker-room at the All England Club, but had not discussed Paris, when the American was booed by the crowd after Henin failed to ask the umpire to replay a point in the final set.

"We are in the locker-room for a whole fortnight. What do you expect? I don't think there is any regret (on her part). She won the French. She played very well. I didn't really talk about the French."

MORE CONSIDERATE

Williams said she expected the Wimbledon crowd to be@considerate than in Paris, when she had trouble serving, such was the amount of heckling she received.

"I always expect the worst, at least now I do," she said. "That way I never have to be surprised. I always try and think very pessimistic. That way I won't be disappointed.

"But I love it here at Wimbledon. I've always had a great crew of fans here. Whoever's playing good tennis, they appreciate it, unless of course you're playing Tim Henman!

"The English crowd is a bit older as well. It's obviously going to be different. They're more polite, in a way, than the French crowd."

The American did hint, though, that she would not take any abuse if the crowd turned on her.

"It's fine playing against a crowd that's going against you but it's just a little tough playing against people that are booing in between first and second serves," she said.

"I know what to do in that situation now. As a player you don't have to stand for that."



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