Justine Henin (born June 1, 1982 in Liège) is a Belgian professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. She is currently the second ranked female tennis player in the world.Henin is from the Walloon (French-speaking) region of Belgium. Her mental toughness and her one-handed backhand, a stroke which John McEnroe has called among the best backhands of any male or female player, are reasons she is one of the world's best players.[1][2] As of November 2006, she has won five Grand Slam singles titles, including three French Open singles titles, as well as a gold medal in singles at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Family life
Henin's trainer, Carlos Rodriguez, has been a father figure for her since her mother died of intestinal cancer when Henin was 12 years old. She does not want any contact with her biological father, José Henin. She has two older brothers and one younger sister. Her elder sister died in a car accident before Justine was born.
Henin married Pierre-Yves Hardenne on November 16, 2002, in the Château de Lavaux-Sainte-Anne. She used the name Justine Henin-Hardenne on the tennis court from January 2003 through December 2006. However, on January 4, 2007, just after withdrawing from upcoming tournaments in Australia, including the Australian Open, various news agencies reported that she intended to divorce her husband and assume her maiden name, "Justine Henin." She has since confirmed on her official website that she has separated from her husband.
Her mother, Françoise Rosière, was a French and history teacher who routinely took the young Henin across the border to France to watch the French Open. Henin saw the 1992 final involving her idol Steffi Graf and Monica Seles. Although Graf lost, the experience impressed Henin, who apparently told her mother, "One day I will play here and I will win."
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Justine Henin
Justine Henin
Justine Henin
Justine Henin
Justine Henin
Justine Henin
Justine Henin
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