Serena Williams was in such extraordinary form during the beginning of the 21st century that only controversy could stop her.
French Open, Wimbledon and US Open title wins in 2002 would mark the start of outstanding achievement for the American superstar.
Williams then won the 2003 Australian Open to win career and non-calendar year Grand Slams, with the latter nicknamed a ‘Serena Slam’.
Roland Garros welcomed her back as the reigning champion that year and it appeared as though a fifth consecutive major would follow.
Barbara Rittner, Marie-Gaiane Mikaelian, Barbara Schett, Ai Sugiyama and Amelie Mauresmo were all beaten in straight sets on the clay.
Williams dropped just 19 of the 80 games she played on her path to a second consecutive semi-final appearance.
Justine Henin, who lost only one set across her five matches prior to the last four, was eyed as the penultimate opponent in Paris.
Despite losing the first set, Williams fought back to take the second and ensure a third was needed to decide one of the two finalists.
She served and led 30-0 in the seventh game after Henin hit a forehand shot that landed just beyond the baseline.
Williams fired back but swiftly raised her hand and as the shot was called out, she pointed to the mark on the court in confirmation.
Henin seemed to protest but umpire Jorge Dias double-checked himself and the decision stood in favour of the defending title holder.
The French Open crowd booed and jeered both before and after the call was confirmed, although they didn’t stop for the next serve.
Just as Williams threw the ball into the air before striking, Henin held her hand up in an attempt the delay play amid the crowd noise.
The serve hit the net and Henin’s gesture didn’t go unnoticed by her opponent, who shouted: “She had her hand up!”
Dias said he didn’t see and seeked verification, which did not come.
Williams was more successful with her second serve but lost the point and then the game to leave the set hanging in the balance.
Although she was losing 4-3, Henin capitalised by winning four of the next five games to advance to the French Open women’s singles final.
Williams expressed her disappointment with her opponent after the defeat that ended her hopes of winning five Grand Slams in a row.
“I was a little disappointed with her,” she said as per tennis.com. “I probably still should have won the game.
“It definitely didn’t turn around the match. But I think to start lying and fabricating, it’s not fair.”
Williams added: “It was just a tough crowd out there today, really very tough; story of my life.”
Henin beat Kim Clijsters 6-0 6-4 in the final to win the first of seven Grand Slam titles, four of which came at the French Open.
However, the Belgian later revealed her regret over how the hand gesture against Williams in their semi-final preceded her title victory.
“I think she saw it and was disturbed by that. So it’s true that it’s not the best memory.”
Williams had to wait until 2013 to win the French Open for a second time, with her third and final honour following two years later.
Her total of 23 Grand Slam titles in the second highest in the history of women’s singles tennis.
Margaret Court leads on 24, with Steffi Graf just one behind Williams on 22 to complete the top three.
