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Henin in 'mourning' after ending her career
by Adam D Tue 15 Feb 2011, 7:06 am
Justine Henin has likened her emotions after ending her playing career to being in mourning.
A persistent elbow problem led the 29-year-old Belgian to retire from tennis for the second time last month.
"I regard ending my career more like a sentence that's been handed down than a decision I've made," said seven-time Grand Slam winner Henin.
"The will is there, but physically I can't [carry on]. Now I have to mourn the end of my career."
Henin originally retired from the sport in 2008, having become disillusioned by life on the women's tour, but she returned to action in 2010.
The former world number one suffered a partial ligament fracture in her right elbow when she slipped while playing a fourth-round clash against compatriot Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon, requiring an operation.
She returned in October, aiming to start the 2011 campaign in top condition, only for the pain to return during the Australian Open.
"I've had to deal with a lot of injuries throughout my career but this time, at 29, I just can't go on," she said.
"You have to be reasonable about things. When I came back from Australia, I had consultations with three different doctors," she added.
"It got to the point that I needed 10 minutes in the morning just to get my elbow functional. The ligament wasn't solid enough to handle the intensity of the game.
"I'm going to miss all the great feelings you have as a professional tennis player. I hope I'll pick the racquet up again one day, but more than anything I want to live a normal life."
Henin was speaking on the day that Australian Open champion Clijsters, 27, who also took a two-year break from the sport, between 2007 and 2009, returned to the top of the rankings.
"What Kim has achieved is extraordinary," she added. "But I have always followed my own path and never based my career on what she has been doing."
source - bbc website - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/9397597.stm
A persistent elbow problem led the 29-year-old Belgian to retire from tennis for the second time last month.
"I regard ending my career more like a sentence that's been handed down than a decision I've made," said seven-time Grand Slam winner Henin.
"The will is there, but physically I can't [carry on]. Now I have to mourn the end of my career."
Henin originally retired from the sport in 2008, having become disillusioned by life on the women's tour, but she returned to action in 2010.
The former world number one suffered a partial ligament fracture in her right elbow when she slipped while playing a fourth-round clash against compatriot Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon, requiring an operation.
She returned in October, aiming to start the 2011 campaign in top condition, only for the pain to return during the Australian Open.
"I've had to deal with a lot of injuries throughout my career but this time, at 29, I just can't go on," she said.
"You have to be reasonable about things. When I came back from Australia, I had consultations with three different doctors," she added.
"It got to the point that I needed 10 minutes in the morning just to get my elbow functional. The ligament wasn't solid enough to handle the intensity of the game.
"I'm going to miss all the great feelings you have as a professional tennis player. I hope I'll pick the racquet up again one day, but more than anything I want to live a normal life."
Henin was speaking on the day that Australian Open champion Clijsters, 27, who also took a two-year break from the sport, between 2007 and 2009, returned to the top of the rankings.
"What Kim has achieved is extraordinary," she added. "But I have always followed my own path and never based my career on what she has been doing."
source - bbc website - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/9397597.stm
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Re: Henin in 'mourning' after ending her career
by eirebilly Tue 15 Feb 2011, 7:26 am
It is a shame as i always enjoyed watching Henin play. I much rather her style to that of the big hitting Williams sisters.
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