Justine Henin to return to tennis, aims for 8th Grand Slam title next year

Former No. 1 Henin to return to tennis next year

BRUSSELS — Justine Henin will return to competitive tennis next year.

The former top-ranked player made the announcement Tuesday, barely a week after fellow-Belgian Kim Clijsters capped her comeback from retirement by winning the U.S. Open.

“I want to come back in January,” she said live on Belgian TV.

Henin retired just over a year ago. But the 27-year-old she said she’s ready to compete for an eighth Grand Slam title.

A series of injuries had helped force her retirement, but she admitted Tuesday that she missed the game too much.

Henin plans to play exhibition tournaments in Charleroi, Belgium, and Dubai to hone her skills ahead of the Australian Open.

Henin retired in May 2008, initially rejecting any thought of a comeback with a determination that marked her play throughout a decade-long career in which she won seven Grand Slam titles and one Olympic gold medal.

She became the first woman player to retire at No. 1, after winning nearly $20 million in prize money in her career.

As Clijsters proved, it’s not too late for a comeback. Clijsters won the U.S. Open in just her third tournament back after a 2½-year absence from the tour.

“Subconsciously, it might have had an impact,” Henin said, “but it certainly was not the most important reason.”

During retirement, she became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. In May, she said old injuries still gave her pain and she dreaded living in a bubble while chasing titles around the world.

“The last 15 months I’ve been able to recharge the batteries, emotionally as well,” she said.

Henin said seeing the world’s misery on UNICEF trips to eastern Congo widened her horizon like tennis never could.