Just a few weeks after compatriot Kim Clijsters hoisted the US Open trophy, former world number one Belgian Justine Henin announced that she’ll be making a comeback to the WTA Tour next season. Part of her agenda in this much awaited comeback is to win the Wimbledon, the only Grand Slam tournament she has yet to win.
“It is a dream of mine. I want to work to get it. I make it a priority,” Henin said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Henin has been in the latter stages of this grasscourt tournament a number of times. In 2007, she lost in the semifinals to French player Marion Bartoli despite being one game away from victory at one point.
Rumors of Henin’s comeback have been circulating in recent weeks and just got stronger after Clijsters won the US Open. Clijsters ended her two-year retirement this year and participated in three hardcourt events, including the US Open. Her stellar performances in these tournaments propelled her ranking to 19th in the world.
“Justine is one of the great champions in the history of women’s tennis, and we, along with millions of her fans around the globe, are thrilled,” WTA Tour Chairman Stacey Allaster said in a statement.
“Justine is that rare athlete who decided to step away from the game at the height of her powers, and no doubt she will be a force to be reckoned with from the get go,” she added.
Henin said that she wants to play until the 2012 London Olympics which gives her a lot of time to win the elusive Wimbledon title and other tournaments as well.
