Former tennis world number one; the 25-year old Belgium Justin Henin whose tennis career was one of the most outstanding ones in the WTA circuit has recently announced her sudden retirement. It was certainly a shocker for most tennis fans to learn that Justin decided to shift her life in such a way and that tennis will no longer be a part of her present either her future.

Justin accomplished 41 WTA singles titles throughout her professional career; seven of which were Grand Slam titles – four at Roland Garros, one in sunny Australia and two of her most precious titles at the hard courts in the United States being her last one just last year. Additionally, she won the singles gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Greece back in 2004. There is no question Justin’s legacy is very complete as she will be remembered as one of the best athletes of her time.

Her career began at an early age but it was until she met Carlos Rodriguez in 1997 that she was basically set on course to reach the pinnacle of her tennis. Rodriguez and Justin have been an inseparable couple - player-coach ever since and together as a team have enjoyed the payoffs of hard work, consistency, passion for the sport and cleverness. Justin’s game was one of the best developed in the WTA; on court we saw a player who was mentally strong, very fast, versatile on any surface, one of the best slice back-hands ever seem but most of all we saw a girl fighting for a dream she was able to fulfil.

Nevertheless, Justin had another battle to win as well and that was outside the courts basically in her personal as she faced family problems besides her stormy marriage which quickly ended after only one year.

Despite the evident uproar her latest decision caused worldwide Justin did not give an specific reason why she is leaving the professional circuit; she is the first woman to have announced her retirement while being ranked still in the number one position. "I'm at the end of the road. This is the end of a child's dream." "I started thinking about (retirement) late last year," she said. "I was at the end of the road. I leave with my head held high."

Since the beginning of the year , the Belgium number one stated in several occasions that her time was approaching to an end as she was getting old for the WTA standards besides her urge to open new chapters of her life such returning to college and having her own family. We certainly did not expect this to come so soon but such an important decision cannot be questioned and we hope for her to be able to find her way back to a normal life; in the sense of doing the things she really enjoys and continue her work at the two tennis academies Carlos and Justin opened in Belgium and in the United States.

Our best wishes go to this incredible athlete, tennis player and woman who gave us the wonderful years of the game we love most – tennis – and who will remain in our minds as a bravest human being who gave up a lot to turn her life around for the best.

About the author
Claudia Beckford provides outstanding WTA tennis content as well as information in the sports betting industry.

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.