[Chito]

Former No. 1 tennis player Justine Henin has no plans to come back


BRUSSELS — A year after her shock retirement, Justine Henin still feels the pain of competitive tennis every morning.

"I'm broken. If it is not the knee, it is the shoulder," she said.

On the other hand, every day offers the freedom to do what she wants, a release from the relentless pressure that ultimately drove her into retirement at 25 while still ranked No. 1.

Despite the chaotic state of women's tennis and the impending return of fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, the message is simple: the seven-time Grand Slam champion is happily staying put in retirement with no plans of a comeback.

"It is truly a page that has been turned," Henin said Wednesday on the eve of the first anniversary of her announcement that she was quitting. "It was 20 years of my life. Now life is something different."

As a new UNICEF goodwill ambassador, she discussed the humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo with European Union Commissioner Louis Michel in his headquarters overlooking the Belgian capital.

Her humanitarian work is a strong commitment now, but she also throws herself into projects she never had time for previously.

On Thursday, she will star in the "12 works of Justine Henin" on Belgian television, where she will be seen training with favourite football team Anderlecht, strutting the catwalk and even cooking. Later, she will host a music show.

"I have been living in this bubble for all these years and then you fall back into real life," she said in an interview with two reporters.

That struck home last January when, in her UNICEF role, she visited eastern Congo, once a Belgian colony and one of the world's worst killing grounds over the past dozen years.

Atrocities continue, with women and children often the main victims. For once, Henin was an unknown face among UNICEF officials on a fact-finding mission.

"They didn't know who I was, so it had no impact on the contacts I had. That was great, because that was always a given in my life. When you are a public figure, there is always something awkward," she said.

Henin may be little-known in Africa, but Commissioner Michel knows her face draws more attention in the rest of the world than his ever will.

"Her contribution is a great antidote against selfishness," he said. "When Justine Henin is a witness to all this, it is clear she has a much bigger impact on public opinion than I could have."

Henin will centre her UNICEF work now on vaccination campaigns for children.

It leaves the dust of her beloved clay courts as a distant memory.

Asked who will win the French Open, where she is four-time champion, Henin returns a blank stare.

"I haven't really followed tennis anymore," she said.

Henin recently picked up a racket again to hit some balls with longtime coach Carlos Rodriguez. Just to make sure it could not be misconstrued as the start of a return to competitive tennis, she said, "I hasten to add, just to improve my condition and stay healthy."


http://www.google.com/hostednews/can...vaKWjpERtuYy1w

[Chito]

Maybe it's just me, but I find it a little incredulous when she states she doesn't follow tennis, in response to the question about who she thinks will win the French. I'd say Serena was her only rival in terms of sheer competitiveness coursing through her every pore. And I don't know how you turn that off.

And I hope someone posts "The Twelve Works..." on YouTube. Call it morbid curousity, but I would love to see this.

[berdyanskdotsu]

I think it's great that she's enjoying herself, and has found a cause that means so much.

[PyncGyncliacy]

Saw the quotes on her not returning this morning, and didn't even think the need to post it. I just think it's such a given, I don't know what the debate is about. She never seemed a wishy washy type and she wasn't forced out just by injuries or baby fever like Hingis, Davenport, or Clijsters.


She seems to have so much on her plate with the tennis academy, the UNICEF stuff and the TV projects. I recently read an interview with Kafelnikov who said he basically had no idea what to do with himself after he retired (so he started playing poker).

[TypeTeasiaDer]

Is running reality shows and music programs really "falling back into real life"?

[PyncGyncliacy]

Is running reality shows and music programs really "falling back into real life"?

I think she is referring to the situation in Congo and how she was shielded from things like that when her life was consumed by tennis

[Rellshare]

I was never a fan of Henin while she was playing, (except for that French Open match against Serena, I was going through a rebellious phase), but the one thing I admired about her was that she was a strong willed competitor. I applaud whatever she is doing and I am mightily curious on how she will walk on a catwalk!

[hacyOrgachbic]

I wish....every year, she'd pop out of retirement just for the French....... Not a big fan of Justines....okay not a fan at ALL....but her presence is missed on the tour

[nancywind]

God bless her but I'm looking for the next great champion, not that last one. Enjoy your vaca.

[altosburg]

Justine, that old thing? Don't they just break out this same old article every other month?

[hacyOrgachbic]

Justine, that old thing? Don't they just break out this same old article every other month?

I expect we will be hearing about "that old thing" frequently up until the French Open is over....

[freddystone]

I'm torn between wishing she'd come back to give the tour some week-to-week-consistency...

And, of course, hanging myself in my basement if she did come back.

All in all, I'm cool with it not happening.

[suilusargaino]

I'm torn. I find Henin obnoxious, but she had a beautiful game, and was much less of a spaz than 99% of the women on tour, including in the top 10.

I think if she came back, I'd welcome her.