Justine Henin has been unable to recover from the elbow injury she suffered at Wimbledon last year.
HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Former world number 1 Justine Hénin confirms her retirement from tennis for the second time
- The 28-year-old Belgian resigns after failing to recover from an elbow injury.
- Henin injured his elbow during last year’s Wimbledon tournament.
- She was at the top of the world rankings for two years and won seven Grand Slam titles.
(CNN) — Former world number one Justine Henin has confirmed her retirement from tennis for the second time, after failing to recover from the elbow injury she suffered last year.
The 28-year-old Belgian, winner of seven Grand Slam titles during a glittering career, initially left the sport in May 2008 but returned early last year and subsequently reached the final of the Australian Open.
However, she injured her right elbow during last year’s Wimbledon tournament and, despite struggling to reach the third round in Melbourne this year, Henin has now decided to call it a day after listening to medical advice.
Women’s tennis will miss the elegance of Hénin…
Confirming the news on his official website, Henin said: “After my fall at Wimbledon last year, I knew it would be difficult to come back, but I decided to give everything to overcome my injury.
My elbow is too fragile and damaged for me to continue playing tennis at the highest level
–Justine Henin
“However, in recent months I have rarely been spared from pain and only a return to the tennis court would give me answers.
“Unfortunately, I suffered a lot last week and every day hurt more and more. I had tests on my injury and the results are clear: my elbow is too fragile and damaged for me to continue playing tennis at the highest level,” she added.
Henin will go down as one of the greatest players of her era, although her failure to win a Wimbledon title – she lost twice in the final – is the only missing piece in an impressive career that saw her win four French Open titles, two US Opens and an Australian Open crown.
Henin – count on me for the Australian Open
She topped the world rankings for two years, but off-court problems, including a high-profile divorce, were blamed for her sudden initial retirement from the sport after the 2008 French Open.
