SPORTS> Tennis
Henin tipped for shock return
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-28 13:24

BRUSSELS: Belgian media were speculating on Wednesday about the possible return to women's tennis of former world No 1 and multiple Grand Slam title winner Justine Henin, 15 months after she retired from the game.

Henin tipped for shock return
756 people, including Belgium's former tennis champion and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Justine Henin (C), make the longest toilet queue to set a new world record in support of UNICEF's WaSH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) campaign in Brussels March 22, 2009. [Agencies] 

Noting that Henin, 27, is back in training for exhibition matches, several papers have speculated she may return to the circuit as compatriot Kim Clijsters did earlier this summer.

Vers l'Avenir newspaper reported that "Juju has as good as taken her decision to return to competition from January".

Neither the Belgian tennis federation nor the player herself commented on the rumors - seven-time Grand Slam title winner Henin is currently abroad working on a charity campaign with UNICEF.

Close friend and former coach Carlos Rodriguez played down the rumors.

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"There's nobody telling me of a return. We've not spoken about that. I am really astonished," Rodriguez said.

But he did confirm that "she is training, yes. Two or three times a week to get herself in shape as she's not played for a year. That's all."

However, his wife was quoted as telling Vers l'Avenir that "something is in the offing but I'm not allowed to talk about it".

Officially, Henin is down to play exhibition matches at the end of the year in Belgium and Dubai. Under international anti-doping rules Henin would have to inform the game's authorities if she were to return three months beforehand.