Justine Henin returns to Australian Open with fresh outlook on life and tennis

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Henin returns with new outlook on tennis

MELBOURNE, Australia — Justine Henin is making her Grand Slam comeback with a new perspective on life and tennis.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion stunned the tennis world in May 2008 by announcing her retirement while ranked No. 1, saying she had lost her passion for the sport.

Fast forward to 2010, Henin says her time off gave her a new and improved mindset. Add that to her explosive speed and devastating backhand.

“I don’t think things are going to be the same as before because I have learned a lot in the last 18 months,” a relaxed Henin told a pre-tournament news conference Saturday. “I wouldn’t say I’ve changed, but I probably grew up.”

During her time off, the 27-year-old Henin became a UNICEF goodwill ambassador. She traveled to Congo and Cambodia to work on vaccination campaigns for children in impoverished countries. In late 2007, she and her husband of five years divorced.

“I realized that I was somebody (besides) being a tennis player. And this person is really important to me now,” said Henin, who won the Australian title in 2004.

She withdrew with an abdominal strain in the 2006 final, skipped the 2007 edition and lost to Maria Sharapova in the 2008 quarterfinals — her last major.

Henin is unseeded and unranked in Melbourne — she can’t qualify for a WTA tour ranking until she has played three tournaments — quite a change for her.

“To come here without a ranking, I’m impatient to refind my place, that’s clear, because I like to win,” said Henin, who faces fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in the first round. “But today that’s not what I’m preoccupied with. I’m focused on refinding my confidence and finding a new equilibrium. But I know that comes little by little.”

Time off certainly didn’t hurt another Belgian Kim Clijsters — who won the U.S. Open in her third tournament back from retirement.

“I never expected to be playing on tour again. My mindset was never there,” Clijsters said Saturday.

During a two-year break, Clijsters got married, had a baby and, like Henin, acquired a new outlook.

“The two years I was away, a lot of things changed in my life and a lot of good things happened, and I wouldn’t change it for a thing,” said the 15th-seeded Clijsters, adding she doesn’t plan to play as much tennis as before.

“My focus is not really based on ranking as much as trying to aim for the big tournaments,” said Clijsters, who looks to add a third Grand Slam title.

Clijsters plans to play about 15 tournaments this year.

“My schedule for this year is far from being busy,” the 26-year-old Belgian said. “Obviously, my situation now, with the family, I think it’s important for me also to have the life at home a little bit.”

Clijsters made history at the U.S. Open, becoming the first unseeded woman to win the Open — and the first mother to win a singles major since 1980.

The return of Henin and Clijsters — who could face each other in the quarterfinals — has added new energy to women’s tennis and raised expectations at Melbourne Park.

“I honestly hope that this will be one of the most exciting years in women’s tennis,” said Sharapova, the 2008 Australian Open champion who returned in May after 10 months off because of shoulder surgery.

“You have the story lines of the comebacks. You have the depth of the top 10,” said Sharapova, who is seeded No. 14. “There’s many possibilities.”