Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina and Serena Williams have all been ranked number one in the world at some point in their tennis careers, but their dominance is now threatened by Justine Henin’s decision to return to the sport.
Prior to her retirement in 2007, Henin was ranked number one in the world and had won a major tournament every year since 2003, including the 2007 U.S. Open and three straight French Opens from 2005 to 2007.
During that time, Henin struggled with several off-court issues. They included nagging knee injuries, a knee surgery following the 2007 US Open, a divorce from her husband that same year and a very public reconnection with her father and siblings in 2008.
Henin made it clear when she retired that she had lost the drive to play tennis and was both emotionally as well as physically fatigued. She would go on to say that she had no intention to return to competitive tennis.
“A new future is ahead, I won’t go back on this decision,” Henin said in May 2008. “I have experienced everything I could have. I have lived completely for tennis.”
Rested and having rediscovered the passion she had lost, Henin decided to make a comeback in September 2009.
“It’s going well, there’s a lot of pleasure on the court, and that’s the most important thing,” Henin said when she announced her comeback.
When a player with her type of skill and passion is healthy and determined, no matter how much time off, she is going to be tough to beat.
After losing in the finals of the Brisbane International to Kim Clijsters, the Henin comeback looked to be on track. It all changed however, when Henin pulled out of Sydney’s Medibank International with knee troubles. After this new injury, it looked as if the comeback may be put on ice.
Despite this setback, Henin remained in the field for the Australian Open. The tournament’s organizing committee welcomed her with open arms and awarded her an unranked wild card entry. For Henin, entering the tournament as an unseeded wild card meant one thing: her opponents were going to be very good and very tough to beat.
Most did not expect her to be as successful as she has been, especially when the tournament is the first major of the year. Though not all of her matches have been easy, Henin has survived and is on her way into the semi-finals. Henin has defeated three-seeded opponents, including Elena Dementieva (5), Alisa Kleybanova (27), Nadia Petrova (19), and fellow countrywoman Yanina Wickmayer.
As she plays more, she continues to look sharper and as if she is gaining more confidence. If Henin is able to defeat her next opponent, China’s Jie Zheng — who is also a tournament surprise — she will more than likely face current world number one, Serena Williams. Ironically enough, Williams is quite possibly the greatest benefactor of Henin’s retirement.
No matter her final place, the 27-year-old Henin has a made a statement. She is back and ready to play. She is just as good as she was before she walked away from tennis. In the Australian Open she has made another statement entirely: not only is she back, but she wants her number one standing back.
You can reach this columnist at sports@theeagleonline.com
