Tennis Update: Justine Henin retires again
Former world number and Belgium’s number two, Justine Henin was forced to retire from the world of tennis for the second time in her career, perhaps for good on this occasion, after citing an elbow injury.
Henin had earlier disappeared from the world of tennis in 2008 after surprisingly being at number one. She was the first player ever to retire while holding the top position. However, the love for the game brought Henin back in 2010. Playing only her second tournament after her comeback, the 2010 Australian Open, Henin made it all the way to the finals, though she lost a chance at the championship losing to Serena Williams.
Playing the third Grand Slam of 2010, the Wimbledon Championships, 17th seed Henin made it through to the third round. However, during her match with compatriot, Kim Clijsters, Henin slipped and hurt her elbow. The injury greatly hampered Henin causing her to lose the match and be forced out of the tournament. The injury caused Henin to retire prematurely.
Coming back in 2010, Henin competed at the Hopman Cup partnering Ruben Bemelmans. The Belgians made it all the way to the final after Serbia’s withdrawal but failed to win the mixed rubber and hence the championship. Henin next competed at the Australian Open as the eleventh seed but was forced to exit the event following her loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova.
However, during the entire tournament, an elbow injury kept troubling the Belgian. Due to her inability to play through the pain anymore, Henin finally announced her retirement. She had been feeling pain for a long time now but was continuing through it with “sheer will power”. However, her latest tests and doctor reports have seem to overridden that willpower, as the doctors were adamant that she took retirement from playing.
The former world number one ends her career with forty three titles including seven Grand Slam championships and two Year’s End Championships. The only Grand Slam title missing from her collection so far was the Wimbledon Championship where she made two unsuccessful final runs, losing to Venus Williams in 2001 and then to Amelie Mauresmo in 2006. It seems her collection will remain incomplete.
Her goodbye on her official website said, "I turn, and this time, an incredible page of my life…what a wonderful trip, I have experienced during all these years. Today I am calmer and I can create positive and rewarding look on this experience in my life…Finally and most importantly, thanks everyone. Thanks for standing by my side during all these years. I will never forget your support and your loyalty."
The tennis world will surely miss the former world number one who has been dubbed as one of the greatest athletes ever. On hearing about Henin’s retirement, Chairman and CEO of WTA Stacey Allaster said, "We have all been fortunate to once again have had the opportunity to witness the beauty of her game during these many past months, and no doubt we will miss seeing her on court competing like only Justine can. In her young career Justine has already done so much to inspire and give back to others, and I am sure this will continue to be a big part of the next chapter of her life."
Tags: