Henin out of 2008 German Open

Serena Williams is fast shaping as the player to beat in the ladies' tournament at the 2008 French Open tennis tournament. The resurgent American scored a third round win at the German Open yesterday while French Open defending champion Justine Henin departed the tournament after losing to 13th seed Dinara Safina.

Henin’s early exit from the German Open is her second major setback in just over a month. The Belgian player is struggling to recover from a knee injury, not to mention a bruising 6-2, 6-2 defeat to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Son Ericsson Open in Miami.

Serena Williams, who won the title at the 2008 Sony Ericsson, showed no signs of slowing down her rampant return to peak form as she disposed of 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-1. Williams has already won three WTA titles in 2008, including the top tier Family Circle Cup on clay in Charleston and the Indian Open in Bangalore.

William Hill have Serena Williams priced at 4/1 to win the 2008 French Open. Despite a niggling injury and a poor run of form Justine Henin remains priced as 2008 French Open favourite at odds of 11/8 with William Hill.