Justine Henin claims it was Roger Federer, not Kim Clijsters, who really inspired her return to tennis – by sparking her longing for the one Major she hasn’t won: Wimbledon. These quotes come from her t.v. appearance on RTL-TVI:

“Roger Federer’s victory at Roland Garros spoke to me much more (than Clijster’s comeback) because it made me think of a lot of things in relation to Wimbledon.”

“I felt a lack and maybe for the first time I really felt that Wimbledon was missing from my list of trophies.”

“Winning Wimbledon is a dream. It’s more than an aim, it’s really a dream.”

“I’m giving myself the means to look to achieve great things but will that be enough to win Wimbledon? At the moment I don’t have the answer to that. I know I’m going to work for it though.”

Wow, that’s quite amazing, isn’t it? That one victory could re-ignite Justine Henin’s competitive fire?

Quotes via Sporting Life and thanks to HCFoo’s Tennis Blog for finding them!

Justine Henin announced her return to the pro tour on Belgian television on Tuesday:

I have a smattering of French – enough to get the gist of what she’s saying – but I’m not fluent enough to provide a transcript. Feel free to provide your translations in the comments section!

The New York Times has some quotes from Henin’s agent:

Henin’s longtime agent, Ken Meyerson, said in a telephone interview that she had decided to come out of retirement before the Open began. He said she had been practicing, felt rejuvenated by the time off and was thrilled at how well she was hitting the ball.

“I think these gals — and guys, too, because it’s not just the women — have played so much tennis for so long, and it’s just so comprehensive,” Meyerson said. “They might have two, three weeks off a year, with all the foundation and philanthropic work they do. They do that for years and years. It’s physical and it’s mental burnout. These girls just need time to rest and rejuvenate. That’s exactly what happened to Justine.”

“She will want to be a major player, a major force in the sport again,” Meyerson said. “And if she didn’t think she could, she would not come back.”

I’m still a little bit in shock that this is actually happening!

Will the thought of Justine Henin back on the court – sporting her no-nonsense Adidas kit and a stick-straight ponytail – strike fear into the hearts of her WTA colleagues? Will the threat of her steely resolve, butterfly feet and whipping forehand cut beach holidays short? Will the words of Carlos Rodriguez make the blood of many a hitting-partner-cum-coach run cold?

“The desire to win Wimbledon is one of the main reasons she’s come back and I’ll do everything to help her do it.”

Here’s my best guess at what everyone’s thinking.

Dinara Safina: “No! Not another Real No. 1!”

A major milestone on Dinara’s journey to the top of the rankings was her win over Justine Henin in Berlin, 2008. Justine retired just days later, while still ranked No. 1 in the world. Safina’s victory over Henin and subsequent success seemed to represent a changing of the guard in women’s tennis. And now, just sixteen months later, Justine says she’s ready to compete with the best again. And with another multi-Major winner in the mix, the still slam-less Safina’s spot at the top appears to be more of a fluke of circumstance than the WTA’s new status quo.

Safina/Henin head-to-head: 1/5. Dinara’s victory marked the end of Justine’s professional career.

Serena Williams via Twitter: “Anyone know what time my anger management class is?”

Serena Williams is scared of no one. But her recent blow ups, threatening bodily harm on a lines person at the US Open and on a cheating opponent, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, at the French, have revealed a dangerous crack in Serena’s body armour. If Justine tries to pull anything like the French Open’s infamous “hand incident” again (click here), we should all be scared.

Serena/Henin head-to-head: 7-6. Justine has the 4/2 advantage in Majors.

Venus Williams: “It’s great for women’s tennis! But Wimbledon is mine! All mine!”

Didn’t Justine get the memo? Wimbledon belongs to Venus. She may play puzzling, ramshackle tennis at other tournaments, but when it comes to the greens of Wimbledon, she’s the one (for Serena) to beat. Venus loves the place so much, I think she’d marry it if she could:

“I just love Wimbledon. I have true love in my heart and when you have true love you do your best and nothing can stop you.” (via The Independent)

I suspect Venus has herself to blame for Justine’s comeback. Watching Venus destroy World No. 1 Dinara Safina, 6-1, 6-0 in this year’s semifinals must have made Justine’s Wimbledon dream seem pretty achievable.

Venus/Henin head-to-head: 7-2. At Wimbledon, Venus has beaten Henin both times they’ve played.

Kim Clijsters: “Whatever, JuJu!”

Who would blame Miss Congeniality for being a little peeved? She was thinking this postpartum comeback would be a breeze – some training, a couple exos and a Major title or two between Jada’s play dates. But with her Belgian rival returning things are bound to get more stressful – and less smiley.

Really, how could Kimmie not roll her eyes at this:  “Subconsciously it might have had an impact,” Henin said, referring to Clijsters’ success.“But it certainly was not the most important reason.“

Clijsters/Henin head-to-head: 10/12. Justine enjoys a 5/2 advantage over Clijsters in Majors.

Melanie Oudin: “Dang, there go all the Justine Henin comparisons.”

I love Melanie, but I never really bought the Justine Henin comparisons the media started spouting during the US Open. Sure, they’re both small, blonde, and quick, but so what? So’s Olivier Rochus.

Oudin/Henin head-to-head: 0/0

Maria Sharapova: “Hi. I have my own problems.”

I don’t think Maria Sharapova gives a hoot about anyone else on the WTA tour now. She just wants to learn how to serve again. If anything, Justine’s return could inspire her – they played what many called the best WTA match of 2007 at the year end Championships. Maria lost that one, but then annihilated Justine a couple months later in the Australian Open quarterfinals: 6-4, 6-0. Masha went on to win that tournament and Justine started planning her singing career.

Jelena Jankovic: “I’m still JJ, right?”

Don’t worry, Jelena. Justine’s nickname is JuJu – you’re safe.

Jankovic/Henin head-to-head: 0/9.

Ana Ivanovic: “I’d like to announce my return to professional tennis!”

We all know poor Ana is struggling right now. But at least she took advantage of her window and got a Major while the time was ripe (see the photo at the top of this post.) She should just pretend she’s been retired all of this year, and announce her own comeback at the Australian Open. Shoot, stranger things have happened.

Ivanovic/Henin head-to-head: 0/4.

Oh the wild, wacky world of the WTA Tour! The Australian Open can’t come soon enough.

Justine Henin announced live via Belgian television today that she will be returning to professional tennis in 2010.

I followed the live chat on Le Soir, and picked up some quotes. I did my best to translate the quotes they put up:

“I’ll return to tour very quickly. I’m very excited.”

“It’s amazing, it’s true. There was a long personal journey. I’m refocused. More mature.”

“My inner voice was tickling me, and I took a little time to talk to (coach) Carlos Rodriguez.”

“My goal is to return in January in Australia, but I do not know what tournament”

That last one is a little confusing – I’d say she isn’t yet confirming her definite participation in the Australian Open. But to return to the Magic 8 Ball, all signs point to “yes.”

Le Soir does the 8 Ball thing:

To meet the rules of the World Anti-Doping Code ratified by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), every player who appeared in the top 50 world rankings and who wishes to resume his career must inform the Federation at least three months before his return. Justine Henin will begin again as early as January. She should attend the Australian Open (from 18 to 31 January) that she had won the tournament in 2004 … against Kim Clijsters.

I’m sure there will be more available soon*, along with some clarifications. The good news is: JuJu’s BACK!

*Here are some new quotes via the BBC (thanks Lorrie, for the article!):

“I’m really happy and deeply moved to be able to announce tonight that I’m coming back to competitive tennis.”

“These past 15 months have been enriching but there is a flame that has been re-lit. I thought it had been put out forever.”

Her old coach Carlos Rodriguez will be back in the player’s box, with the ultimate goal of winning Wimbledon (wonder what Venus and Serena think about that?):

“She has entrusted me (to be her coach) once again and I will try to never let her down.”

“I’m very happy to be helping her to restart her new life. It’s a super challenge for her. The desire to win Wimbledon is one of the main reasons she’s come back and I’ll do everything to help her do it.”

The BBC also says that Justine will play the Australian Open.

AP Photo/Virgina Mayo

The Justine Henin comeback rumor is moving out of the rumor realm and into reality. If Justine Henin was a Magic 8 Ball, all signs would be pointing to YES!

According to the AP, the Belgian media is reporting that Justine Henin will announce her return to pro tennis tomorrow (Tuesday.):

Former top-ranked player Justine Henin will announce her return to competitive tennis Tuesday, according to two top Belgian newspapers.

La Derniere Heure and Le Soir reported the comeback Monday

Her spokeswoman did not return phone calls and Henin’s Web site had no comment on the rumors.

Reading the tealeaves at tennis.com:

Belgian press also report that Henin has agreed to be a guest on Belgian news program RTL-TVI on Monday or Tuesday night, after previously declining interview requests.

Here’s the clincher - a “Tweet” from Daniel Kaplan, a reporter at Sports Business Daily:

(Thanks to Global Village Tennis News for the Tweet alert.)

It’s all about the “Oui!” WHEEEE! Or is it just wee wee?

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The Justine Henin comeback rumors have reached such a frenzy that the papers are reporting on what Henin isn’t saying.

Here’s the (non) story from the Associated Press:

Justine Henin has gone from confirming she won’t return to competitive tennis to refusing to discuss her future.

The retired Henin was asked again Thursday if she would return to the sport. The answer is no longer the definitive “no” it once was. It is now something more like, “Come back and ask me later.”

A UNICEF goodwill ambassador, she tried to keep the press conference focused on tetanus vaccinations for mothers and babies in developing nations.

“We are here to discuss child mortality in the world, a subject matter which is important enough to center on this today,” she said at UNICEF headquarters.

Got that, folks? Read between the lines and it’s obvious that by “we are here to discuss child mortality” Justine means, “tell Clijsters her ass is grass.”

The AP also reports that Henin has pulled out of an upcoming theater gig, “fueling rumors that she needed time for tennis practice.”

So far Justine hasn’t actually said anything to make us believe she’s considering coming out of retirement, a state she unexpectedly entered in May, 2008, while still ranked No. 1 in the world. Since her countrywoman, rival and fellow retiree, Kim Clijsters, announced her own return to tour this March, Justine’s gone on the record saying things like competitive tennis “is truly a page that has been turned,” and “the desire to play is not coming back. I don’t miss tennis.”

Regardless of what Justine is or is not saying, everybody else around the tennis world is talking about her return. Bud Collins, Pam Shriver and the rest of the ESPN crew have dropped so many hints during this week’s broadcast that I’m starting to wonder if Justine will be subbing for Yanina Wickmayer in the US Open semifinals. GTT readers are sharing their own inside info (those practice partners have loose lips!) And then there’s Mrs. Carlos Rodriguez, the wife of Justine’s longtime coach and someone who you wouldn’t want working for your crime family:

“Something is in the offing,” She reportedly told Belgian paper Vers l’Avenir in August, “But I’m not allowed to talk about it.”

Coach Carlos Rodriguez obviously hasn’t been talking to his wife (spending all of his time on the practice courts, maybe?) He sidestepped the comeback question like so: “There’s nobody telling me of a return. We’ve not spoken about that. I am really astonished.”

Rodriguez did confirm that Justine has been training “two or three times a week,” supposedly to get in shape for a pair of exhibitions she has planned at the end of this year in Belgium and Dubai.

Yeah, we all know what that means. Exhibition one month, Major semifinals a couple months later. See you Down Under, Justine!

(Interesting side note: Canada’s National Post points out that anti-doping rules would require Henin to give tennis authorities three months notice before her return. So look out for that press conference on October 18th!)

Here are some videos (in French) featuring Justine Henin’s work as a Unicef Ambassador. The press conference:

Justine visiting the Congo:

Seeing the work she’s doing for UNICEF, I can understand why Justine may not comeback. Maybe there really is more to life than tennis. . .

“They say it themselves and it’s true, the Parisian crowd is pretty stupid. I think the French don’t like it when a Spaniard wins. Wanting someone to lose is a slightly conceited way of amusing yourself. They show the stupidity of people who think themselves superior.”

That’s Uncle Toni Nadal talking to Spanish radio after his nephew, Rafa, got bumped out of Roland Garros on Sunday to Robin Soderling. (via The Guardian)

The Swede underdog was buoyed by the cheers of the French crowd, which offered little love to the four-time defending champion. In key points of the match, the stands shuddered under cheers of “Ro-bin! Ro-bin!” John McEnroe quipped that Soderling had never experienced such support – in Sweden.

Nadal noticed, too:

“This tournament is so important, such a beautiful tournament for me. . .I wish when I’m back they (the crowd) can support me a bit more in key moments.”

Flashback to Rafa’s 2005 Roland Garros debut, when the crowd was so angry at an umpire’s (correct) decision against Rafa’s opponent, Sebastien Grosjean, that play was halted for a full seven minutes under a barrage of catcalls and whistles.

“The crowd yesterday didn’t behave as they should behave when watching a game of tennis.” the 18 year-old Rafa said later. (via The Independent)

Rafa lost that set against the Frenchman, but went on to win the match and then his first title in Paris.

He wasn’t so lucky this time , but Rafa and his fans can take cold comfort in knowing that he isn’t alone.  Many a great Champion has been humbled by the Roland Garros audience.

Last year’s target was Maria Sharapova, who had the nerve to be ranked No. 1 and show emotion while losing to Dinara Safina in the fourth round. The crowd hissed her off the court for the crime of caring too much and too loudly. The Guardian described the jeers as “nasty, bullying” and the spectators as a “mob on the move.” Maria, of course, said it was just business:

“I can’t please everyone; that’s not in my job description. I’m an athlete. I go out there and fight my heart out. I mean, they paid for a ticket to watch me so they must appreciate me on some level, right?”

Even more contentious was the 2003 French Open semi-final between Justine Henin and Serena Williams, where the crowd was so pro-Henin, that they booed Serena for protesting the Belgian’s gamesmanship. Here’s a (scratchy) video of the famous “hand” incident:

Serena was so rattled by Justine, the crowd, and the moment, that she ended up losing that game and, eventually, the match. She couldn’t hide her disappointment, afterwards. You can guess who “they” are:

Sometimes the crowd behaves less like a lynch mob and more like a Greek chorus. My all-time favorite French Open scene is from the 1999 final between Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf:

The most important thing to remember before catcalling the French Open crowd: for every Champion sent steaming into the locker room, there’s an enraptured underdog left blowing kisses on the court. Who can forget the “Mexican wave” that brought Gaston Gaudio back from two sets down against Guillermo Coria in the 2004 final? He was just two games away from defeat when the cheeky crowd rallied him to victory:

“I was too nervous,” Gaudio said later. “After the wave, the people started to help me, and I relaxed a little bit.” (via USA Today)

But why is the French Crowd so finicky? Why can’t the spectators be respectful, like the British, or eating hot dogs, like the Americans? What motivates these passionate and pissy performances on one of the sport’s great stages?

Blame it on the “Poulidor Syndrome.”

GTT commenter and French tennis fan, “whynotme” educated me on this affliction that tortures the collective French psyche. It’s named after Raymond Poulidor, an immensely popular and unlucky French cyclist from the 1960s:

“Poulidor was a French cyclist, very talented, he won a lot of tournaments, but he never EVER won the Tour de France, though he finished 3 times as second, and 5 times as third. Each and every time, something happened to him that prevented him from winning it (whether it was multiples falls, flat tires or even a motorcycle who ran into him!) And that’s why he had a storied rivalry with Jacques Antequil, who on the contrary was winning the Tour (5 times). What happened in France is that everyone started rooting for Poulidor, everybody wanted him to finally win. And so French people kind of disliked Antequil, if not hated him. He was booed, they whistled at him.”

Poulidor explained the phenomenon this way: “The more unlucky I was, the more the public liked me and the more money I earned.” (via Wikipedia)

See, sometimes irrational behavior is anything but! Even Uncle Toni might reconsider his slur: the crowd doesn’t hate a Spaniard, just a Jacques Antequil.

Hate the sickness, not the sufferer, Uncle Toni.

Thanks again to “Whynotme” for the insight and on-site reports from RG!

Rafael Nadal wishing he had a face mask: photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images via Daylife.

The Justine Henin comeback rumors have been simmering ever since her countrywoman, Kim Clijsters, announced her return to the WTA tour this summer.  Comeback kid Lindsay Davenport added to the speculation this weekend on FSN, saying that she’d “be surprised” if Justine never played again on the pro-circuit.

But Justine, ever the kill-joy, refuses to bite. Here she is in Saturday’s L’Equipe (google translated from French):

In an interview with L’Equipe this Saturday, Justine Henin . . . announced unequivocally that she will not retreat from her May 2008 decision to put her tennis career firmly behind her.

Now 26 years old, the Belgian player, winner of seven Grand Slam tournaments, surprised everyone when she announced her retirement last year. A phase of depression accompanied this decision, but today everything seems to be back in order. “The first two to three months, I was afraid to gain weight, afraid of emptiness. I practiced many sports, I took up my studies,” said the former champion, who also discusses her new life, including her involvement in her Limelette club and its activities.

While her compatriot Kim Clijsters officially announced her return to competition for the U.S. tour this summer, Justine Henin, however, rejects the idea of a comeback on the circuit. “The desire is not coming back,” she says during the interview. “I don’t miss tennis,” she said, categorically.

I say: “Yeah, right!” Once she sees all the headlines and gushing articles about how wonderful and talented Kim Clijsters is, Justine will be hitting the practice courts with Carlos Rodriguez before you can say “Wild Card.”

That’s what I’m hoping, at least!

Click here for the original article.

Xinhua/Reuters Photo

OMG! Justin Gimelstob is growing on me as a commentator! He does an awesome job (to use one of his fave phrases) when it comes to spilling the insider info. Listen carefully, and you never know what he’ll say. Here are some golden nuggets from this weekend:

Gimel sez: Federer and Mirka have “organized” things so that their baby will arrive between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Rogers Cup and Cincy organizers, take Roger off your advertisements now.

Gimel sez: Marat Safin has some serious post-retirement job leads, including working for the Russian Olympic Committee and running some tournaments. I’m especially happy to hear that he and super-agency CAA are planning something – still hoping he’ll replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond (or play the racquet wielding Russian villain!)

Gimel sez: There’s a push to switch clay court tournaments over to hardcourts, and Nadal is adamantly opposed. Rafa half-jokes that he’d like to able to walk when he’s 27 years old.

Also of note: Lindsey Davenport’s sensing a Justine Henin comeback!

So while I still despise FSN with a passion, I like the younger, clued-in commentators. Makes it even more frustrating that the network doesn’t show more tennis!

Note: still processing all the carnage on the WTA side this weekend – hope to post a summary for Monday.

Photo: Getty Images via Eurosport

I’m obsessing over Justine’s retirement. WHY, WHY, WHY???? Can’t someone important just ORDER her to come back to tennis – after two weeks in Maui with Simone Bolelli? Come on Simone, you lost early in Hamburg and it’s for the good of the GAME!

One of the main sources of my anxiety over Justine’s decision – besides the huge gaping hole she’s leaving on the tour – is how out of the blue it was. What if another World No. 1 decides to take similar drastic measures after suffering a few uncharacteristic losses? Far fetched? Sure. But she opened the door. . .

Perish the thought!

Thank God Roger is more forthcoming with his plans and feelings than Justine is. He put (some) of my irrational fears to rest in his post-match press conference yesterday. The reporter asked Roger to put himself in Justine’s tennis shoes:

Q: Can you imagine that personal reasons become that strong that you would stop at the age of 26?

FEDERER: Difficult. We are the same age. I was just thinking about it when I was giving the answer. I could not imagine just to say goodbye … That wouldn’t be my thing. I have the feeling that I still have so much ahead of me and so many possibilities in tennis. I just love the sport. It would break my heart if I had to stop. Injuries could be a reason, but obviously that’s not the case with her. But she did have a difficult time on the Tour with injuries and then the story with her husband, etc. For sure there are reasons which could make you retire. I can imagine that, however not in my situation. Especially as long as I’m the no. 1. Then I would rather wait a year and say “Okay, maybe in a year things will be better.” But for sure she has her reasons.