Henin more mature, more relaxed
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Comeback queen Justine Henin might have reached the final in her first Grand Slam since returning to the sport but says she can still get much better.
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Justine Henin of Belgium celebrates after winning a semifinal of women's singles against Zheng Jie of China at 2010 Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Jan. 28, 2010. Henin won 2-0. [Xinhua/Wang Lili] |
In an ominous warning to her WTA rivals, Henin said she had returned from her 18-month sabbatical a more mature player and with a better perspective on life and tennis, and her place in the sport and the greater world.
The 27-year-old will face old rival Serena Williams in tomorrow's Australian Open decider after producing a flawless display in the semifinals to thrash China's Zheng Jie 6-1, 6-0.
Vanquished rivals Nadia Petrova and Elena Dementieva both commented Henin returned a better player than when she retired in May 2008 and the Belgian said while she was more mature, it was still a work in progress.
"I have a lot of things to improve on," she said.
"I know I'm not yet at what I can produce, we have a lot of things to work on with my coach and we're going to go back home and get ready for the next tournaments.
"I think we can see a lot of things already, so that's very positive. If I can go back home with another title, that would be more than a dream, of course."
The former world No 1 was given a wildcard for the Australian Open just as countrywoman Kim Clijsters was when she returned from retirement to win last year's US Open.
Henin said she had more balance in her life than in her previous career, when she won seven Grand Slam titles, but unexpectedly retired while ranked the best player in the world, citing fatigue.
She said tennis had consumed her life since she was a child, until she realised she has lost the joy of playing and needed a break.
"We all have different kind of issues personally," she said.
"I had to forget a little about tennis and just get some air and breathe differently - tennis has been my whole life and I think there is something else than that.
"I had different kinds of projects, met a lot of people, travelled for UNICEF and I learned a lot of things in these experiences.
"I started to trust myself much more as a person and I realised I could exist without tennis and that was an important step for me."
Henin said she definitely has a new perspective on life in her second coming.
"I can say I'm a different person, I just learned a lot of things and grew up," she said.
"I'm more mature because of being away from the tour, I think I got off my bubble.
"Your whole life is based on your tennis and your career and we do a lot of sacrifices.
"It's very hard to find a good balance, a lot of stability between the personal life and the professional life.
"I think it's important just to realise there are different things away from that (tennis).
"It was really important for me, as I feel more at peace now."
Ironically, it was a defeat to Williams in Miami in 2008 that helped convince Henin she needed a break from the game that had consumed her life since she was a child.
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