Down Under finalist Justine Henin returns after elbow Injury
Former World Number 1 Justine Henin has just confirmed that she will be returning to the Women’s Tennis Association tour in 2011, starting her new campaign at the Hopman Cup team event. Her first match will be played on Saturday, but despite her return she
has warned fans and media that she may not be fully fit to play till mid-2011.
Henin’s last major event was in June, where she made it to the finals of the Australian Open. She added that her elbow injury would be reassessed in the middle of January, just in time to determine whether or not she will be participating in the Melbourne
event again.
The 28 year old player says, “There were concerns about the future of my career. I hope I can build my condition by playing tournaments this year and hope to be really ready around June-July."
The Belgian player returned to professional tennis earlier this year, following a hiatus of 18 months. She had abruptly retired in 2008, prior to the French Open. She suffered a ruptured ligament in her right elbow this year, when she fell during a fourth-round
loss to Kim Clijsters.
Henin, who has won seven Grand Slams over the course of her career, is pragmatic about her 2010 performance. She says, “It is my comeback, it has been a difficult year. I started the season pretty well but then physically it has been pretty difficult. It
hasn't been an easy comeback and a serious injury like that just six months after I came back was the worst for me."
At the Hopman Cup, Henin will be guaranteed participation in three singles matches and three doubles contests. It will serve as a warm-up for her before she competes in the Melbourne tournament. In 2010, the former World Number 1 made a magnificent comeback
and managed to reach the final of the event before being defeated by Serena Williams.
Although Williams is out of the running for the event due to injuries herself, Henin doubts that she will be one of the favourites for the title. She says, “Serena is not going to be there so it is going to be wide open, but I don't consider myself one of
the biggest favourites."
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