After Clijsters, Henin likely to return to tennis

BRUSSELS - Former world number one Justine Henin is set to announce her return to tennis some 16 months after she retired from the game, Belgian press reports said Tuesday.

Henin, 27, who retired from the sport in May 2008 when at the top of the world rankings, will announce her return live on national television during the evening, it was reported.

If confirmed Henin would be following compatriot Kim Clijsters who won the US Open in New York September 13.

“Justine Henin is also returning,” De Standaard reported, while Le Soir said Henin was set to “break her silence” and confirm rumours of a return.

Speculation that Henin was contemplating a comeback grew after it emerged she had returned to training to play in two exhibition matches at the end of the year and had also cancelled a theatrical acting engagement.

There has no confirmation from Henin on the reports.

On her website the seven-time Grand Slam winner congratulated Clijsters on winning the US Open just five weeks after she ended two years of retirement in which she devoted time to motherhood.

“Congratulations with your magnificent victory,” Henin said.

“Once again, Jada can be very proud of her mama. Your achievement is just fantastic! Warm applause to you and your whole family.”

Henin won a total of 41 WTA Tour titles and held the world number one spot for 117 weeks in total. Henin announced her retirement on May 14, 2008, saying she was “at the end of the road” and wanted to devote more time to life away from tennis.

“Now I’ve been playing tennis for 20 years and it’s been my whole life but as a woman, as you get older, you need to think about the future,” she said at the time.

“A new future is ahead and I won’t go back on this decision.”