FEW TITLE contenders have experienced the complexities of life that Justine Henin has had to withstand.

Yet just as the problems concerning her health, with various allergies and immunity issues, seemed to have been controlled and her emotional state of mind cleared after January’s break-up of her marriage and the subsequent reunion with her family, she is confronting another issue in her attempt to win the US Open – an aversion to New York.

The mayhem of Manhattan is abhorrent to the little Belgian, who plays far fewer tournaments on North American cement than any of her peers in the world’s top 10.

For her, Roland Garros is idyllic, Wimbledon more than acceptable and the Australian Open in Melbourne a pleasant winter diversion. The year’s concluding Grand Slam event is simply business, but her sights are set on a first title in New York for four years.

“Here for me it’s maybe a bit more difficult,” she said with more than a little irony, having cruised through her opening rounds in exemplary fashion, dropping a total of nine games and winning half of her six sets to love. “New York is a bit crazy and the US Open is just a different kind of atmosphere.

“I’m someone who needs to be quiet and very calm, and you can feel the tension a little bit more. There is a lot of attention. It’s a big show here. There are places where I feel a little bit better, because it takes a lot of energy. It’s not my favourite Grand Slam.”

Henin played only one warm-up tournament, but it resulted in a sixth title of the year in Toronto. She has won all but four of the events she has entered this year.