When Williams was asked whether fitness was an issue, she answered, “I’m very fit. I can run for hours.”

The match featured brilliant play by both past U.S. Open champions, from stinging serves to big groundstrokes to touch volleys. Henin was far better at the net, winning 11 of 14 points when she pressed forward, while Williams was only 5-for-14.

Mostly, though, the difference-maker was Henin’s ability to steer Williams this way and that along the baseline until the Belgian could find an opening for her smooth backhand or a well-placed forehand. Repeatedly, especially in the second set, Henin wrong-footed Williams to end a point.

The first set was much closer and of much higher quality. Henin broke in the opening game by ending a tight net exchange with a forehand volley, and she served for the opening set at 5-4.

But Williams buckled down to break back right there with a backhand return winner down the line and a loud, “Come on!” The tiebreaker began with a 23-stroke point in which Williams made two great defensive plays before swatting a backhand passing winner down the line.

“I really got nervous at that time,” Henin said, “and I knew every point was important.”

She showed it, delivering a 105 mph ace to go up 4-2, followed by a forehand winner she punctuated with a yell of “Allez!” Williams seemed deflated and dumped a forehand into the net to end the set.

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Price rested a cheek on a hand, barely able to watch, as Henin took control right away in the second set, breaking for a 2-0 lead, and that was that, pretty much.

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