The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour will have a familiar face back on the women’s circuit in 2010.
Former world number one Justine Henin has officially announced her return to professional tennis.
Henin’s decision to come out of retirement can hardly be termed surprising, as the Belgium media has been reporting it as imminent for weeks. Henin herself fueled the rumors by refusing to address the speculation and by placing a large order for customized racquets.
Speaking to the Belgian television station RTL, Henin confirmed that she plans to officially return in January.
“I am really happy and am deeply moved to be able to announce this evening that I will return to competition,” Henin said on Tuesday.
Henin shocked the tennis world on May 14, 2008 by announcing her immediate decision to retire from the sport, despite being ranked as the number one player in the world at the time. She cited the lack of passion in her game as the reason for her decision, but on Tuesday, Henin revealed that her old fire for competition had returned.
“There is a flame which is revived,” Henin added. “I thought it forever extinct.”
Henin plans to launch her comeback bid in Australia next season. She is a former winner at the Australian Open and a three-time champion in Sydney.
Nice! It will be good to see Justine again. Just goes to show “Impossible is Nothing.”
[...] will launch her comeback in Australia next season. (source: On the Baseline, photo via Tennis [...]
Great news!
Also, Henin WON the Aussie Open in 2004 over Clijsters, so she is just more than a former Australian Open finalist…she is a CHAMPION!
David, thanks for pointing that out! It’s been corrected.
Justine is back to business !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldZ_X-078YU