AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert via Daylife
JuJu’s back! Justine Henin has started her “second career,” as she’s calling it, on a two match winning streak. She took the trophy this weekend at the Women’s Tennis Trophy exhibition in Charleroi, Belgium, scoring a confidence boosting 6-4, 6-4 win over current World No. 12 and Fed Cup champ Flavia Pennetta in the final. She beat 81-ranked countrywoman Kirsten Flipkens in the semis. Sure it’s just an exhibition, but at this point, it’s (almost) all good for Justine Henin:
“It’s not my [best level of] tennis, for sure, but that’s what I expected. But I’m physically in perfect shape, my right knee that I had the operation on. And my attitude this evening was perfect.” Justine told reporters after the semifinal. (via tennis.com)
Here’s some video of Justine Henin’s matches at the Women’s Tennis Trophy exhibition. That one-handed backhand is a sight for this tennis snob’s sore eyes!
Henin vs. Flipkens:
Henin vs. Pennetta: this appeared to be more hit, less giggle. And a backhand return winner for the match!
I know there were plenty of errors mixed in with the great shot making, but just seeing this little bit of footage makes me really excited for Henin’s official return to the tour. Besides an exhibition against Nadia Petrova this month in Cairo, Justine will be tuning up for the 2010 Australian Open in Brisbane, a WTA tour “International” level event starting on January 3rd.
Henin’s self-esteem is already high enough for her to be addressing herself in the third person:
“It is another Justine Henin who will try and go out there and achieve her dream of finally winning Wimbledon,” Henin told reporters this weekend.
“I don’t know if it’s possible but that just makes it an even more passionate challenge for me.”
Question: If by some crazy circumstance, Justine Henin wins Wimbledon this year, will she retire before the US Open? Personally, I wouldn’t be surprised.
With Wimbledon as her main objective, she’s keeping her goals realistic Down Under (you know, like the semis.):
“To be honest, I don’t have any big expectations as regards results in Australia.
“But I will be delighted just to return to the country again, I love it there, and to the official circuit.
“I’ve never regretted my decision to stop playing but now I’m really excited about the prospect of starting a second career that probably won’t look anything like the first, at least in my mind.”
Quotes via The Sydney Morning Herald
Tags: Henin, Pennetta, tennis, Women's Tennis Trophy, WTA
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Oh yes, she’s back! Just in time!
oh hell, f*cking yess……justine’s back to give serena some trouble. CANT WAIT. That one-hander is still looking pretty damn sweeeet! and her net game…man..the women’s game is sooo lacking it. This is gonna be awesome for the women’s game.
YAHOOOOOOOOO….boy have i missed her. it should really lift the women’s tour. hopefully less crying, serving yips, medical time outs, etc…..and a lot more great tennis…….can’t wait.
Justine is really close to ready because Pennetta is NO JOKE. So to beat her, even in an exo, is a sign of good things to come. I’m glad she’s back because having her in the mix keeps the women’s game exciting.
Since the level of women’s tennis has not improved one bit over the last 3 years, as was clearly shown by the outraging easy victory of Kim clijsters at the US Open, I am convinced that Justine will quickly return to the top.
This is excellent news for this sport !!
lol at the photo of Justine…dancing? *Someone* is happy to be back
So glad Justin is back. Her technical, tactical and mental game is so flawless. She really demonstrates how to optimize potential. Alot of these guys get by on athletcism but are not performing how they could if they really had a good understanding of the game like Justin.
Hey FF and everyone! There’s no reason she shouldn’t come back and be ultra-competitive out there. The game didn’t change that much while she was gone, I feel. And like Pamela said, taking out Flavia in straights shows she’s ready to pick up right where she left off.
I’m excited to see what she does out there!