posted May 15, 2008

It is not silly for Ms Henin to comment on the recovery process at 25 as opposed to 20. Part of the recovery process is down to the body's production of Human Growth Hormone, which starts to decrease around the early 20s. This is why many older athletes abuse HGH, and why it is on the banned list. Much of the scandal surrounding baseball is about players over the age of about 30 using HGH to assist recovery from injury (plus the prospect of earning multi-million contracts that this allows).

Ms. Henin has done remarkably well against rivals better-suited physically. Obviously it becomes more of a struggle as she gets older. She is highly competitive, and evidently she has found there is more to life than tennis and plenty she is still young enough to achieve, so good luck to her as she goes after whatever it is.

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posted May 15, 2008

Justine Henin was a top tennis player and although No 1 ranked was only 8 in the current years race yes she had the odd injury but has played more events than others ranked above her in the race. Her style of play required a much higher level of fitness than others such as Sharapova both Williams who rely on power to win many points. Henin was not the greatest player of her generation (no career slam 4 of 7 in France suggests best clay courter though she was also a top hard courter as well 1 Aus & 2 US) but unlike Serena (best of this era) she did not win all 4 slams. However she was probably the most naturally talented player.

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posted May 15, 2008

Yep Justine certainly made womens' tennis more watchable for me: a contrast to the usual baseline-bashing. The Henin v Mauresmo Wimbledon final a couple of years ago was a classic, showing us grasscourt tennis 'how it should be played'.

The timing of this retirement is a shame - there's so much left to play for this year - Roland Garros, Wimbledon, US Open and Olympics - I would have expected Justine to have won at least one of the above and reached the final of at least another.

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posted May 15, 2008

She probably won't be Miss/Ms for long as she will likely be made a Baroness by the King of Belgium, such things are still done there unlike here in England. (Hereditary I mean)

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posted May 15, 2008

i think she must have an illness or something

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posted May 15, 2008

This is what the Beeb article had to see about Federer's take on Henin's retirement....


And the men's world number one Roger Federer admitted he was surprised at the timing of the announcement.

"It's obviously a shock for the tennis world," said Federer.

"It's a particular surprise before Roland Garros and Wimbledon, which she's never won.

"It's quite surprising and unfortunate that she's out of the game but she will have her reasons.

"She is a special player because she can play on any surface and it's remarkable that she's won so many tournaments because she is small and the tall players coming in now have an advantage.

"I couldn't imagine deciding out of the blue to retire, especially if I was number one.

"I would prefer to take a year off if it was all getting too much for me, rather than saying straight out that I'm not going to go on."

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posted May 15, 2008

Justine confirmed her standing as a gifted player at the quarter final of the French Open when she completely dismantled Maria Sharapova's game.

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posted May 15, 2008

This isn’t first time Justine fooled the media. Who can forget 2006 Auzie Final when Justine simply quit trailing 61, 60, against Mauresmo without giving her the due honor of a champion?
Two years later Justine masterminds another dubious exit following successive crunching defeats but expect people to remember her as undefeated champion? Only fools will do that
Justine is smart azz, a coward, and a disgrace!!!!hahahaaa.........

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posted May 15, 2008

Is Sharapova favourite for the French, now? What an irony THAT would be - Henin retires without winning Wimbledon, and the next Grand Slam completes somebody else's deck. If Federer won as well...we might see a few bitter facial expressions.

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posted May 15, 2008

It doesn't matter how good you are you only continue to win if you continue to grind out hours of practice and gym sessions week after week after week.

Most people on winning the lottery would retire immediately or, at the very least, start taking it a bit easier. I therefore find it strange that anyone should be surprised when occasionaly a sport star with millions in the bank finds they've lost the motivation to do the hard hours and quits.

Its not as if being world No 1 can be down sized to a part time job. JH knows what it takes to be No 1 and if she feels she can't give it, and doesn't fancy playing second fiddle to those who are her inferiors when she does, then she has gone the right way.

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