Justine Henin hopes this week's Paris Open will help her regain
her composure and mark the start of a successful season following
the split from husband Pierre-Yves Hardenne.
Henin, who has dropped Hardenne from her name, did not take part
in last month's Australian Open citing "personal family reasons"
and the 24-year-old has not played competitive tennis since beating
Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 6-3 in last year's season-ending
Tour championship in Madrid on November 12.
"I have had very painful times and today I want to speak about
tennis," Belgian Henin told a news conference on Monday.
"I want these things to remain my little secret. I want you to
understand and respect my decision."
Henin, who will face either Greek Eleni Daniilidou or
Frenchwoman Emilie Loit when she enters the tournament in the
second round, decided on her come back two weeks ago.
"It was during the Australian Open. I had been working hard and
I told myself I would not be able to wait until the Dubai
championships (February 19)," the world number two said.
"It is because I love tennis so much. I just could not stay away
from the courts any longer."
The French Open champion, who reached all four grand slam finals
last season, planned to take the Paris Open step by step after
injuries and illness hampered her preparation for the
tournament.
"I still feel pain in my right knee and I had to stay in bed
because of gastroenteritis last week," said French-speaker
Henin.
"However, when I look back to 2006, I just tell myself I want to
regain the feeling of serenity I had to have a beautiful
season."
Henin, a winner at all the grand slam events except Wimbledon,
said she would love a victory at the All England Club this season
after losing 2-6 6-3 6-4 to grasscourt specialist Mauresmo in last
year's final.
"Of course, Roland-Garros has a special place in my heart but I
would really love to win Wimbledon," she said.
"But it starts this week. I have to show that I am able to go
forward, that I still have this will I had when I was five years
old," Henin said.
"I must remember that adversity made me the person I am
now."
(China Daily via Reuters February 6, 2007)