Henin seeks Clijsters truce

Henin (left) has beaten Clijsters in two major finals this year

Justine Henin-Hardenne has tried to draw a line under her long-running row with world number one Kim Clijsters.

The two Belgians have clashed on and off court during a year which has seen Henin-Hardenne beat Clijsters in both the French and US Open finals.

Clijsters has accused Henin-Hardenne of gamesmanship and her father queried the dramatic physical improvement of his daughter's big rival.

But Henin-Hardenne insists she wants to put the controversy behind her.

"I was a little disappointed with some of the things which she said and I think everyone can understand that," said Henin-Hardenne.

"But I think she was probably disappointed after losing to me and I understand that.

"The Belgian media doesn't know enough about tennis to make comments Kim Clijsters

"Everyone has to understand that there is a lot of pressure on both of us and it's not always easy to deal with the situation."

Clijsters had intimated that Henin-Hardenne gained an unfair advantage by taking an injury break to have blisters taped on her way to victory in the final of the Accura Classic in San Diego last month.

She said Henin-Hardenne "suddenly started running like a demon" after receiving treatment and that she "sometimes did this in matches".

Clijsters's father Leo also appeared to hint in the Belgian press after Henin-Hardenne's US Open win that her improvement in physique had not been naturally acquired.

"I have no problems with what has happened in the past," said Henin-Hardenne, who is taking part in the Leipzig Grand Prix in Germany this week.

"I said everything I wanted to say and Kim deserves to be number one.

"We are mature enough to go on court or on tour together and say it's in the past and we will do that.

"We will have to travel a lot together and it's better to have a good relationship."

And Clijsters was in equally diplomatic mood, insisting talk of a feud is a media invention.

"I have no bad feelings," said Clijsters. "People in Belgium try to create things about us and set things up.

"The Belgian media doesn't know enough about tennis to make comments. They want to create gossip in magazines like they do in the United States but Belgium is too small for that."