Justine Henin: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Belgian tennis player (born 1982)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=MarchDecember 20222023}}

| residence = [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]

| careerprizemoney = [[US$]] 20,863,335<ref>{{Cite web |title=Career Prize Money Leaders |url=https://wtafiles.wtatennis.com/pdf/rankings/All_Career_Prize_Money.pdf |access-date=7 January 2024 |publisher=WTA Tennis}}</ref><ref name="wtatennis.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5114430/title/13-women-have-passed-%2420-million-now |title=News – WTA Tennis English |work=Women's Tennis Association |access-date=28 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816150723/http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/5114430/title/13-women-have-passed-$20-million-now |archive-date=16 August 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

| Olympicsresult = [[File:Gold medal olympic.svg|15px]] '''Gold MedalW''' ([[Tennis at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's singles|2004]])

'''Justine Henin''' {{Post-nominals|country=BE|CMW}} ({{IPA-|fr|ʒystin ɛnɛ̃}};<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/henin-finds-strength-to-overcome-adversity-pkjwhx7gqs5 |title=Henin finds strength to overcome adversity |work=The Times |last=Harman |first=Neil |date=20 January 2003 |access-date=7 July 2021 }}</ref> born 1 June 1982) is a Belgian former [[List of WTA number 1 ranked singles tennis players|world No. 1]] [[tennis]] player. She spent a total of 117 weeks as the world No. 1 and was the year-end No. 1 in [[2003 WTA Tour|2003]], [[2006 WTA Tour|2006]] and [[2007 WTA Tour|2007]]. Henin, coming from a country with limited success in tennis, helped establish Belgium as a leading force in women's tennis alongside [[Kim Clijsters]], and led the country to its first [[Fed Cup]] crown in 2001. She was known for her all-court style of play and for being one of the few female players to use a [[single-handed [[backhand]].

She began her professional career on the [[Women's world Tennis Association]] tour in May 1999 as a wild card entry in the Belgian Open clay tournament at [[Antwerp]] and became only the fifth player to win her debut WTA Tour event.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tennis Glance |date=17 May 1999 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> She also won her hometown event, the Liège Challenger, in July 2000.

Henin started the year as the 5th-ranked player in the world but lost to [[Kim Clijsters]] in the semifinals of the [[Sydney International|Medibank International]] in Sydney. In the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne, she defeated [[Lindsay Davenport]] 7–5, 5–7, 9–7. In a match lasting more than three hours, Henin overcame a 4–1 final set deficit, high temperatures, and muscle cramps to defeat Davenport for the first time in her career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tennisroundup.com/events/2003/2003_AustralianOpen/index.htm#AusDay7 |title=Australian Open review |publisher=Tennisroundup.com |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-date=25 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080425071901/http://www.tennisroundup.com/events/2003/2003_AustralianOpen/index.htm#AusDay7 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Battling BelgianJustine Henin-Hardenne |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/australian_open/2003/2673211.stm |title=Henin triumphs in thriller |publisher=BBC News |date=19 January 2003 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> She then lost to Venus Williams in the semifinals in straight sets.

At the clay court [[Charleston Open|Family Circle Cup]] in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], Henin defeated world No. 1 Serena Williams in the final. This was Williams' first loss of the year after 21 wins.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/players/player/9044 |title=Serena Williams 2003 Results |publisher=WTA |access-date=17 May 2013}}</ref>

At the French Open, she was the fourth seeded player and defeated the defending champion, Serena Williams, in a controversial semifinal 6–2, 4–6, 7–5 which saw Henin asked to acknowledge her raised hand during a Williams service motion.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/2003/french_open/news/2003/06/06/henin_williams_rt/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717095708/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/2003/french_open/news/2003/06/06/henin_williams_rt/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2007 |title=She Said, She Said: Serena cries foul, but Henin-Hardenne offers no apology |date=6 June 2003 |access-date=23 May 2013 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref><ref>[http://gregcouch.com/2011/02/25/serena-henin-still-searching-for-closure-on-hand-incident/ Serena, Henin Still Searching for Closure on Hand Incident | Greg Couch on Tennis]. Gregcouch.com (25 February 2011). Retrieved on 20 March 2014.</ref> In the final, Henin defeated Clijsters in straight sets. This was her first [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] title, and she was the first Belgian ever to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Henin was the second-seeded player at the US Open. She won her first four matches against unseeded players before defeating seventh-seeded [[Anastasia Myskina]] in the quarterfinals and then defeated sixth-seeded Jennifer Capriati in the semifinals 4–6, 7–5, 7–6⁽⁴⁾ in a match that lasted more than three hours and stretched to midnight. Henin recovered from a 3–5 deficit in the second set and a 2–5 deficit in the final set and was just two points from defeat eleven times. She was treated for muscle cramps and dehydration overnight but returned to play in the final the next day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/open/2003-09-05-womens-semis_x.htm |title=Henin-Hardenne tops Capriati in classic to face Clijsters in final |work=USA Today |date=6 September 2003 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> In the final, Henin defeated Clijsters in straight sets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/sep/07usopen.htm |title=Henin-Hardenne lifts US Open title |work=Rediff.com |date=September 2003}}</ref> The win raised Henin's ranking to world No. 2, just behind Clijsters.

After months of layoff because of a virus, Henin returned to competition in August and won the women's singles [[gold medal]] at the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] in Athens, defeating [[Amélie Mauresmo]] in the final 6–3, 6–3. Henin reached the gold medal match by defeating reigning French Open champion [[Anastasia Myskina]] in a semifinal 7–5, 5–7, 8–6 after having trailed 1–5 in the final set.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-08-21/molik-falls-as-henin-sets-gold-standard/2029830 Molik falls as Henin sets gold standard]. abc.net.au. 21 August 2004</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics_2004/tennis/3583968.stm |title=Henin-Hardenne into final |publisher=BBC News |date=20 August 2004 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> Her medal ceremony was attended by fellow countryman and IOC president [[Jacques Rogge]].

[[File:JUSTINEJustine HENINHenin (2714310623)in 2005.jpg|thumb|222x222px|Justine Henin in 2005]]

Henin was seeded tenth at the French Open and defeated the French player [[Mary Pierce]] in the final in straight sets to take her second title at Roland Garros. The win marked Henin's 24th consecutive clay court win and her tenth consecutive final win, a streak dating back to Zurich in October 2003. In capturing the title, she defeated Kuznetsova in the fourth round, Sharapova in a quarterfinal, and Petrova in a semifinal. Henin saved two match points to defeat Kuznetsova in the fourth round 7–6⁽⁶⁾, 4–6, 7–5 and thus became only the second woman to win the French Open after saving a match point.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/tennis/4592641.stm |title=Brave Henin-Hardenne battles on |publisher=BBC News |date=30 May 2005 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref>

At [[2005 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]], her win streak of 24 matches was snapped in the first round by Greek [[Eleni Daniilidou]] 7–6, 2–6, 7–5. It was the first time that a reigning French Open champion failed to win a match at Wimbledon.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Sarah |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4116834.stm |title=Henin-Hardenne makes shock exit |publisher=BBC News |date=21 June 2005 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/22/SPG0ODC8LH1.DTL |title=Wimbledon Notebook: Eleni Daniilidou's win of a lifetime |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=22 June 2005 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> A [[hamstring]] injury sustained earlier in the year eventually limited her to playing only 11 more matches for 2005.

At the Australian Open, Henin defeated top-ranked Lindsay Davenport and fourth ranked Maria Sharapova in three-set matches to set up a final against third ranked Amélie Mauresmo. While trailing 6–1, 2–0, Henin retired from the match, citing intense stomach pain caused by over-use of anti-inflammatories for a persistent shoulder injury. Henin stated afterwards that she feared possible injury had she continued to play. Henin was criticized by the press<ref>{{cite news | last = Collins | first = Bud | title = Henin-Hardenne took the queasy way out |work=The Boston Globe | date = 29 January 2006 | url = http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/tennis/articles/2006/01/29/henin_hardenne_took_the_queasy_way_out/ | access-date =11 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Shriver, Pam | title = Shriver: Henin-Hardenne's reputation is tarnished | publisher=[[ESPN]] | date = 29 September 2006 | url = httphttps://proxy.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus06/columns/story?id=2310543 | access-date =11 February 2008 | author-link = Pam Shriver }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tennis.com |title=Bellyacher!!! |url=https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/bellyacher |access-date=4 September 2022-09-04 |website=Tennis.com |language=en}}</ref> because she had stated after her semifinal win against Sharapova that she was at the "peak of her fitness" and was playing the "best tennis of her life". This was only the fourth time that a [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] women's singles final ended by retirement since 1900, and the first ever during the [[Tennis open era|open era]].

Henin was the third seed going into Wimbledon and advanced to her third consecutive Grand Slam final without losing a set. She defeated Clijsters (who was seeded second) in a semifinal 6–4, 7–6⁽⁴⁾ but lost the final to Mauresmo. The final featured two finesse players who used their all-court games, a break from recent years that featured a succession of power baseliners claiming the title. At almost every point throughout the match, both players approached the net to volley. Tipped as the tournament favorite, Henin won the first set. But Mauresmo recovered to win the next two sets and her second Grand Slam singles title and deny the Belgian a career Grand Slam.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cheese |first=Caroline |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/5161122.stm |title=Mauresmo clinches Wimbledon title |publisher=BBC News |date=8 July 2006 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nysun.com/sports/amelie-mauresmo-the-sentimental-favorite-to-win/35575/ |title=Amelie Mauresmo the Sentimental Favorite to Win Wimbledon |publisher=Nysun.com |date=7 July 2006 |access-date=17 May 2011}}</ref> This was the only Wimbledon final of the decade that did not involve Venus and/or Serena Williams.

Henin was the first player since Hingis in 2000 to win the WTA Tour Championships and end the year as the top-ranked player. Henin was the first woman to win at least one Grand Slam singles title in four consecutive years since Steffi Graf from 1993 through 1996. Her prize money earnings for the year totaled $4,204,810.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/Rankings_Stats/prize_money_2006.pdf |title=WTA Tour Prize Money Leaders (2006) |date=18 December 2006 |publisher=WTA Tour |access-date=9 August 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Justine Henin Miami Justine_Henin_Miami_(croppedzoom).jpg|thumb|Justine Henin during the [[2007 Sony Ericsson Open]]|214x214px]]

At [[2007 Wimbledon Championships|Wimbledon]], Henin lost to [[Marion Bartoli]] in the semifinals 6–1, 5–7, 1–6, one day after Henin defeated Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. It was Henin's first win over the American on a surface other than clay. In the semifinal, she was up a break at 1–0 and 4–3 in the second set, but could not hold the lead.<ref name="Bartoli stuns Henin to make final">{{cite news | author=BBC Sport | title = Bartoli stuns Henin to make final | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6278644.stm | date = 6 July 2007 | access-date =31 January 2009 |publisher=BBC Sport }}</ref>

At the [[2007 US Open (tennis)|US Open]], Henin defeated her first four opponents in straight sets, with a 6–0 set in each match. Henin then faced Serena Williams in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive time in a Grand Slam tournament, and for the third time, Henin won, 7–6⁽³⁾, 6–1. In the semifinals against Venus Williams, Henin was up a break in the first set but could not hold it. She finally won the set in a tiebreak. In the second set, Henin was ahead 3–0 before Williams leveled the set at 3–3. Williams then had three break points on Henin's service but could not convert and lost the game. Henin then broke Williams's serve and held her own serve to go up 5–3. Williams then broke Henin to pull within 5–4 but Henin broke Williams again in the last game to win the match 7–6⁽²⁾, 6–4. Henin became only the second player to defeat both Williams sisters in the same Grand Slam tournament (after Martina Hingis at the [[2001 Australian Open]]).<ref name="Two Sisters Down, a Russian to Go for Henin">{{cite news | author=Neil Schlecht | title = Two Sisters Down, a Russian to Go for Henin | url = http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/match_reports/2007-09-07/200709071189220679750.html | publisher=U.S. Open | date = 7 September 2007 | access-date =11 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071013041718/http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/match_reports/2007-09-07/200709071189220679750.html | archive-date = 13 October 2007}}</ref> In the final, Henin won her second US Open singles title, defeating Kuznetsova in straight sets, 6–1, 6–3. Henin won the tournament without dropping a set. She thus became the first women ever to defeat both Williams sisters in the same Grand Slam tournament, and go on to also win the title (Hingis had lost to Jennifer Capriati in the final of the 2001 Australian Open).

At the [[2007 WTA Tour Championships|WTA Tour Championships]], Henin won all three of her round robin matches, defeating [[Anna Chakvetadze]], Janković, and Bartoli. Going into the match against Bartoli, Henin had won 22 consecutive matches since Bartoli defeated her in the 2007 Wimbledon semifinals. Although Henin had already clinched a spot in the semifinals, both Henin and Bartoli did not know Bartoli had to replace Serena Williams until several hours before the match and lost 6–0, 6–0.<ref name="Justine Henin Crushes Marion Bartoli">{{cite news | author=Eds. | title = World No. 1 Justine Henin Crushes Marion Bartoli, Ends Round Robin with Double Bagel | url = http://www.onthebaseline.com/2007/11/08/justine-henin-crushes-bartoli-ends-round-robin-with-double-bagel/ | publisher=On The Baseline | date = 8 November 2007 | access-date =11 February 2008 }}</ref> In the semifinals, Henin defeated Ivanovic 6–4, 6–4. In the final, Henin overcame Sharapova in three sets<ref name="Another Perfect Ending for World No.1 Henin">{{cite news | author = Women's Tennis Association | title = Another Perfect Ending for World No.1 Henin | url = http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=1900 | date = 11 November 2007 | access-date = 1 June 2008 | publisher = Women's Tennis Association | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081006195741/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=1900 | archive-date = 6 October 2008 }}</ref> in a match that lasted 3 hours, 24&nbsp;minutes. Sharapova won the first set on her eighth set point in the 12-minute last game. Henin won the match on her fifth match point in the final game of the match. This was Henin's longest ever match, the longest final in tournament history, and the twelfth longest women's match ever.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news | title = Another Perfect Ending for World No.1 Henin | url = http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=1900 | publisher = WTA Tour | date = 11 November 2007 | access-date = 11 February 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080101152255/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=1900 | archive-date = 1 January 2008 }}</ref>

Henin announced her immediate retirement from professional tennis on 14 May 2008, and requested the WTA to remove her name from the rankings immediately. Her announcement was a surprise because Henin was still ranked world No. 1 and was considered the favorite for the [[2008 French Open|French Open]], where she would have been the three-time defending champion.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/7399963.stm |title=Henin announces shock retirement |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2008 |access-date=14 May 2008}}</ref> She said she felt no sadness about her retirement because she believed it was a release from a game she had focused on for twenty years. She also said that in the future, she would be concentrating on charity and her tennis school.

Belgian newspaper [[L'Avenir (Belgian newspaper)|''L'Avenir'']] reported on Tuesday 22 September 2009 that Henin would formally announce her return to competitive tennis after 16 months of retirement. Later that day, she confirmed her return to competition.<ref name="returnbbc">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8267941.stm |title=Henin to return to tennis in 2010 |date=22 September 2009 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=22 September 2009}}</ref>

Henin mentioned seeing Roger Federer finally complete the grand slam of titles by winning the French Open in 2009 had been an inspiration,<ref>{{cite web |last=Rossingh |first=Danielle |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=asi9iEQqvsRE |title=Henin Says Federer's Success at French Open Inspired Her Return to Tennis |publisher=Bloomberg |date=25 May 2010 |access-date=31 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927111547/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079 |archive-date=27 September 2009 }}</ref> as had Kim Clijsters' return to the tour and her victory at the US Open.<ref>{{cite news| |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/henin-return-driven-by-dreams-of-wimbledon-1791572.html | location=London |work=The Independent | title=Henin return inspired by success of Clijsters | date=23 September 2009}}</ref>

At the 2010 Australian Open, Henin was given a wildcard as an unranked player.<ref name="Comeback">{{cite web |url=http://www.tennis.com.au/pages/News.aspx?id=4&pageId=11478&HandlerId=2&archive=false&newsid=6241 |title=Henin set for Aussie summer |date=23 September 2009 |author=Tennis Australia |publisher=Tennis Australia |access-date=23 September 2009}}{{dead link|date=May 2013}}</ref><ref name="Henin granted Australian Open wildcard">{{cite web |url=http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2009-10-12/200910121255326294039.html |title=Australian Open Tennis Championships 2011 – News – The Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific – Official Site by IBM |publisher=Australianopen.com |date=12 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100330152622/http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2009-10-12/200910121255326294039.html |archive-date=30 March 2010 }}</ref> Henin started off with a straight sets victory over Belgian [[Kirsten Flipkens]]. She set up a second round match of the tournament with No. 5 seed Elena Dementieva, whom she defeated 7–5, 7–6⁽⁵⁾. Lasting two hours and fifty minutes, commentators{{who|date=July 2015}} felt this match was worthy of a final. Henin approached the net forty-three times, winning thirty-five of those points. In the third round, she defeated No. 28 seed [[Alisa Kleybanova]] from Russia; where she made a comeback to win 3–6, 6–4, 6–2.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/a-renewed-and-improved-henin/ |title=A Renewed And Improved Henin |publisher=New York Times Straight Sets Blog |date=20 January 2010 | first=Geoff | last=Macdonald | access-date=7 May 2010}}</ref> In the fourth round she faced World No. 16 and fellow [[Belgium|Belgian]], [[Yanina Wickmayer]], defeating her in three sets 7–6, 1–6, 6–3. She then defeated No. 19 seed Nadia Petrova in the quarterfinals. Henin won 7–6, 7–5 after having been down 0–3 in the second set. She then went on to defeat [[Zheng Jie]] from China in the semifinals in convincing fashion 6–1, 6–0, setting up a clash with world No. 1 Serena Williams in the [[2010 Australian Open]] ladies' final. This was the first time in their long rivalry that Henin and Serena Williams met in a Grand Slam final. Henin would eventually fall to Serena Williams in three sets 6–4, 3–6, 6–2.

At the [[2010 Wimbledon Championships – Women's singles|Wimbledon Championships]], Henin was the No. 17 seed. In the third round, she had a victory over Nadia Petrova, winning 6–1, 6–4. She was eventually defeated in the fourth round by Kim Clijsters 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, after convincingly winning the first set. Midway through the first set, Henin slipped on the court, injuring her right elbow. Further examinations revealed a partial ligament fracture in her elbow, causing her to end her 2010 season prematurely.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jul/01/justine-henin-wimbledon |title=Wimbledon 2010: Injured Justine Henin out of US Open |last=Cambers |first=Simon |date=1 July 2010 |work=[[TheGuardian.com]] |access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> She was awarded the [[WTA Awards#Comeback Player of the Year|WTA Comeback Player of the Year]] award in December for her 2010 season.<ref name="Comeback2010" />

At the [[2007 French Open]], [[Martina Navratilova]] said that "Henin's offense is just phenomenal ... it's sort of like we've got 'the female [[Roger Federer|Federer]]', or maybe the guys have 'the male Justine Henin', because she is just head and shoulders above everyone else right now."<ref name="nyt2010"/><ref>Interview with Barbara Schett, [[Eurosport]], 7 June 2007</ref> Her footwork, balance, and court coverage—and she is adept at changing from a defensive style to an aggressive one.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brisbaneinternational.com.au/2009/10/will-justine-come-to-brisbane |title=Henin coming to Brisbane |publisher=brisbaneinternational.com.au |date=20 October 2003 |access-date=28 February 2011}}</ref>

Compared to the rest of her game, Henin's serve was rather inconsistent.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/322308-clijsters-vs-henin-final-at-brisbane-rivalry-reignited Kim Clijsters vs. Justine Henin Final at Brisbane: Rivalry Reignited]. Bleacher Report (8 January 2010). Retrieved on 20 March 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/tennis/henin-not-the-shy-retiring-type-now-20100129-n42j.html Justine Henin | Australian Open]. Brisbanetimes.com.au. Retrieved on 20 March 2014.</ref> Her tendency to take risks on her second serve could sometimes result in a high number of double faults.<ref>[httphttps://sportswww.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/french10/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=5235943 French Open: Championship form abandons Justine Henin versus Samantha Stosur – ESPN]. Sports.espn.go.com (31 May 2010). Retrieved on 20 March 2014.</ref> When she first came onto the tour, Henin used a pinpoint stance (most common among the WTA) for serving, but later retooled her serve to use a platform stance, which is most common among male players.<ref name="nysun1">[http{{Cite web |last=Tom Perrotta |date=2006-08-29 |title=Martina Hingis, Queen of the Non-Contenders |url=https://www.nysun.com/sportsarticle/sports-martina-hingis-queen-of-the-non-contenders/38735/ Martina Hingis, Queen|url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240710051459/https://www.nysun.com/article/sports-martina-hingis-queen-of -the-non-contenders Non|archive-Contenders –date=2024-07-10 |website=[[The New York Sun].] Nysun.com (29 August 2006). Retrieved on 20 March 2014.|language=en}}</ref> Nonetheless, despite her relatively small size, Henin was capable of producing powerful first serves, her fastest one being clocked at {{Convert|196|km/h|abbr=on}} at the 2005 [[Charleston Open|Family Circle Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2806 |title='Harder, Better, Faster...' Article discussing record serve speeds of women – Nov&nbsp;28 |publisher=Sonyericssonwtatour.com |access-date=17 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214103751/http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/1/newsroom/stories/?ContentID=2806 |archive-date=14 February 2009 }}</ref> Henin's single-handed backhand was the most powerful and accurate in the game. She could hit her backhand flat, with heavy topspin, or slice [underspin]. Her backhand could also be used to surprise her opponents with drop shots, breaking up the pattern of a groundstroke rally. Her [[forehand]] was generally regarded as her most dangerous weapon,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justineheninacademy.com/page3.asp?PageGroupeID=6245&SelectedSectionMenu=0&ParentSectionMenuAff=6245&ClubID=132&LG=FR|title=Justine Henin's forehand|work=Justine Henin Academy|date=15 December 2021|access-date=15 December 2021}}</ref> and the stroke that she normally used to dictate play in a match. It was underrated as most only spoke of her backhand, but particularly in her dominant years of 2003 and 2007, she would dominate the tone of matches with her huge and versatile forehand.<ref>{{cite Likeweb her|date=15 serve,December her2021 forehand|title=Justine wasHenin's somethingforehand retooled|url=http://www.justineheninacademy.com/page3.asp?PageGroupeID=6245&SelectedSectionMenu=0&ParentSectionMenuAff=6245&ClubID=132&LG=FR during|url-status=dead her|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215231947/http://www.justineheninacademy.com/page3.asp?PageGroupeID=6245&SelectedSectionMenu=0&ParentSectionMenuAff=6245&ClubID=132&LG=FR career|archive-date=15 andDecember took2021 inspiration|access-date=15 fromDecember [[Andre2021 Agassi]]'s|work=Justine forehand.<refHenin name="nysun1"Academy}}</ref>

In an era where two-handed backhands have become increasingly more popular due to their greater power and control, albeit at the expense of reach and shot variety, Henin possessed one of the best [[one-handed backhandsbackhand]]s to have ever played the sport of tennis. Her one-handed topspin backhand was particularly celebrated because it contained both unmatched power and accuracy, two factors many juniors may find challenging to acquire earlier in their development and thus have driven a good number of them, especially girls, to choose playing two-handed backhands. Additionally, Henin's one-handed backhand also enabled her to play with not only more reach but also more variety in her shots (e.g. slices instead of topspin etc.) as the situation required. [[John McEnroe]] has called Henin's backhand "the best in men's or women's tennis."<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/krUzMVKMl6M Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160807012039/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krUzMVKMl6M&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation |last=davetennisx |title=[HL] Justine Henin vs. Jennifer Capriati 2003 US Open [SF] [2/2] |date=2010-09-22 September 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krUzMVKMl6M |access-date=2019-09-14 September 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Renowned tennis coach [[Nick Bollettieri]] included Henin as one of the few female tennis players he regarded as being a successful volleyer and an adept serve-and-volleyer, alongside the likes of [[Martina Navratilova]] and [[Jana Novotná]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.midatlantic.usta.com/will_the_serve_and_volley_ever_bounce_back// |title=Will the Serve & Volley ever bounce back? |author=Bollettieri, Nick |work=midatlantic.usta.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603062238/http://www.midatlantic.usta.com/will_the_serve_and_volley_ever_bounce_back// |archive-date= 3 June 2013 }}</ref><ref>[http://classic.tennisrecruiting.net/article.asp?id=591/ The Tennis Recruiting Network]. Classic.tennisrecruiting.net (13 April 2012). Retrieved on 17 July 2016.</ref>

On 16 November 2002, Henin married Pierre-Yves Hardenne in the ''[[Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne]]'', and officially adopted the name '''Henin-Hardenne'''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bedell |first=Geraldine |date=5 October 2003 |title=Face to face |work=The Observer |location=UK |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/oct/05/tennis.features |access-date=29 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=16 November 2002 |title=Hometown marriage for tennis star Henin |url=http://www.justine-henin.net/article.asp?id=191 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929164833/http://www.justine-henin.net/article.asp?id=191 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=1 June 2008}}</ref> On 4 January 2007, she withdrew from forthcoming tournaments including the Australian Open due to personal issues.<ref>{{cite news |date=4 January 2007 |title=Tennis: Henin-Hardenne joins Australian absentees – Sports – International |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/04/sports/04iht-tennis.4097825.html?_r=0 |access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> She confirmed three weeks later that she had officially separated from her husband.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 January 2007 |title=Henin-Hardenne separating, plans return to WTA Tour |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2007-01-23-henin-hardenne_x.htm |access-date=28 August 2013 |work=USA Today}}</ref> The same year, she reverted to using the name Henin.<ref>{{cite news |last=Henderson |first=Jon |date=10 June 2007 |title=Henin a class apart for her feats on clay |work=Irish Independent |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/henin-a-class-apart-for-her-feats-on-clay-26296519.html |access-date=28 August 2013}}</ref> In the meantime, following a conflict between Henin and her father, over her tennis career and her relationship with Pierre-Yves Hardenne, Carlos Rodríguez became not only her trainer and coach, but in ways a second father figure for the duration of her active tennis career.<ref name="nyt2010" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Wertheim |first=L. Jon |date=27 January 2010 |title=Can Rafael Nadal Get Back into Game Shape? |magazine=Sports Illustrated |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/01/27/wednesday.mailbag/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130051639/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jon_wertheim/01/27/wednesday.mailbag/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 January 2010 |access-date=27 January 2010}}</ref>

Henin has worn apparel manufactured by [[Adidas]] and used [[Wilson Sporting Goods|Wilson]] racquets for her tournaments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2001/06/20010625/This-Weeks-Issue/What-Theyre-Wearing-And-Hitting-With-At-Wimbledon.aspx |title=What they're wearing (and hitting with) at Wimbledon |publisher=SportsBusiness Journal |date=25 June 2001 |access-date=10 September 2014 }}</ref> Uncharacteristically for a tennis pro, Henin always used to wear her sponsorship provided [[Rolex]] wristwatch even during matches. Later on this habit would be replicated by others on the tour, including [[Rafael Nadal]] and Serena Williams.

| [[French Open]] || 2005–2007 || 3 consecutive singles titles<ref name="RGrecords">{{cite web |title=Record Breakers |url=http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/about/records.html |access-date=6 June 2012 |publisher=RolandGarros.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510155503/http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/about/records.html |archive-date=10 May 2012 }}</ref> || [[Monica Seles]]<br />[[Iga Swiatek]]

* Appointed [[UNESCO]] Champion for Sport<ref>{{cite press release |title=Justine Henin-Hardenne appointed UNESCO Champion for Sport |publisher=UNESCO |date=27 June 2006 |url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=33425&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |access-date=1 June 2008}}</ref>

* USSA Female Athlete of the Year<ref>{{cite press release |title=The Results of the USSA athlete of the Year |url=http://www.ussa.edu/aoy/index.asp |access-date=1 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509084453/http://www.ussa.edu/aoy/index.asp |archive-date=9 May 2008 }}</ref>

* EFE Sportsperson of the Year<ref>{{cite press release |title=Justine Reigns in Spain |url=http://www.justine-henin.be/public/shownews.asp?Lang=en&id=3363 |access-date=1 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111093624/http://www.justine-henin.be/public/shownews.asp?Lang=en&id=3363 |archive-date=11 January 2009 }}</ref>

* Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laureus.com/awards/2008/winners |title=2008 Laureus World Sports Awards Winners |publisher=Laureus.com |access-date=17 May 2011 |archive-date=26 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226053536/http://www.laureus.com/awards/2008/winners |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* [[WTA Awards#Comeback Player of the Year|WTA Comeback Player of the Year]]<ref name="Comeback2010">{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tennis-women-awards/kim-clijsters-wins-wta-player-of-the-year-for-second-time-idUSTRE6B03N120101201 |title=Kim Clijsters wins WTA player of the year for second time |date=1 December 2010 |work=[[Reuters]] |access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref>

[[Category:WalloonPeople sportspeoplefrom Rochefort, Belgium]]