Justine Henin Finishes Second In Brisbane Return

Lawn Tennis, Ace Tennis Magazine, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Justine Henin Finishes Second In Brisbane Return
By Anton Lagani, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Sunday, January 10, 2010 9:40pm PST USA

Justine Henin Finishes Second In Brisbane Return, Lawn Tennis Magazine

BRISBANE--(lawntennis.org) The former world number one Justine Henin of Belgium, playing in her first WTA Tour tournament since her May 2008 retirement from tennis, lost 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(8-6) to her fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters in the final of the Brisbane International Saturday at Brisbane, Australia.

In route to the Brisbane final, Henin defeated the second seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia in straight sets 7-5, 7-5 before topping the third seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the semifinals also in straight sets 6-3, 6-2.

However in the championship match, the top seeded Clijsters raced to an early lead with forceful play before Henin would hold two matchpoints after mounting a second set comeback.

Justine Henin Of Belgium

Brisbane International WTA Tour, Ace Tennis Magazine, 2010, Lawn Tennis Magazine, Lawn Tennis

“I can't be disappointed especially when you have match points. I can be proud of what I did,” Henin said.

“I can't be disappointed especially when you have match points. I can be proud of what I did,” Henin said.

Following the two and a half hour match, Henin withdrew from this weeks' WTA Tour tournament at Sydney, Australia citing a leg injury. Before the withdrawal, Henin was scheduled to meet the world number one and reigning Australian Open champion Serena Williams of the USA in the second round.

Clijsters herself retired from tennis in May of 2007 before returning in August of last year to take the US Open title in only her third tournament back.

Clijsters became the only wildcard winner in US Open history. Henin, who is unranked by the WTA Tour, has been granted a wildcard for the Australian Open, which begins January 18th at Melbourne, Australia.

The 27 year old Henin took her lone Australian Open championship title in 2004. The Belgian, who the tennis legend John McEnroe of the USA has said possesses the best one-handed backhand in the men's or women's tennis, has won a total of nine singles grand slam titles.

In her last appearance at the Australian Open in 2008, Henin lost to the eventual champion Maria Sharapova of Russia 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

Henin, who played her first professional tennis match in 1999, first topped the WTA Tour rankings only four years later in October of 2003.

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