Justine Henin

2007 US Open Champion Justine Henin announced a surprising retirement from professional tennis in May 2008, and did not defend her title at the 2008 event.

Often described as the Roger Federer of women's tennis, Henine had exerted similar dominance of the women's game in recent years and was particularly lethal on clay.

Player Biography

Justine Henin was born in Belgium in 1982. Her exceptional tennis talent was evident from an early age, and encouraged by her mother who would regularly take the young Henin across the border to watch the French Open. Henin's mother passed away when she was 12 years old. A year later she met her current coach Carlos Rodriguez who has guided her career ever since.

Career

Justine's Henin's professional career was launched in 1999. In an impressive debut Henin was handed a wildcard to the Belgian Open, and won the tournament on WTA debut. Despite this excellent start to her professional career, Henin waited another two years before taking another title. In 2001 Justine Henin ended a fallow period by taking three WTA titles and reaching the French Open semi-final and Wimbledon final.

Grand Slam Record

Justine came of age in 2004 when she hit peak form, taking 5 WTA titles. The year also saw her come good at the grand slams where she won the US Open and French Open, also reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

Since 2004 Justine Henin has not gone a single year without winning at least one grand slam event. She has enjoyed the most success at the French Open which she has won four times to date, she also picked up the Australian Open title in 2005. After falling at the final hurdle of the US Open in 2006, Henin bounced back in 2007 to claim the US Open for the second time.

To date the only grand slam event which has thwarted Justine Henin's championship dreams has been Wimbledon, where she has failed to secure a single title despite two appearances in the finals. Henin ended her grand slam career in 2008 without ever once claiming this title.

Playing Style

Justine Henin's success is built on a near perfect technical game and mastery of a wide variety of shots. She also has extremely powerful and accurate basic shots, including a ripping single-handed backhand, a perfect forehand and one of the most powerful serves in the WTA.

Henin's Retirement

Justine Henin, winner of the 2008 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, will be missed at the next US Open tournament, the now retired women's tennis player is going to focus on her own tennis academy Club Justine N1, and charity work. "The game of tennis has suffered a great loss today" - Roger Federer on Henin's retirement.