Former world No.1 Justine Henin says she has matured during her 20-month break from tennis and can be a better player when she makes a return to the sport next week.
Henin, 27, told a news conference yesterday she “grew up” during her absence from the court and can eclipse the standard she set in winning seven grand slam titles.
The Belgian will play in next week’s Brisbane International and the subsequent Sydney International before contesting the Jan. 18 to Jan. 31 Australian Open — the first grand slam of the season — as a wild card.
While keeping expectations in check, she said a second Australian Open title was “possible.”
“I believe I can be a better player, I believe I can use my experience more than in the past,” Henin said.
“When you are into [playing tennis at] 200 percent you have no time to realize it. You are too involved all the time and all this time off helped me to realize everything I achieved,” she said.
Henin said her absence from tennis has given her personal insight and perspective, adding that she didn’t watch a set of tennis in the first 12 months after retirement and now returns to the sport refreshed and self-aware.
“What I can say is I know myself much better and that’s the most important thing,” she said.
Henin appeared more relaxed at yesterday’s news conference than in the past, when she was often perceived as aloof.
“I’m 27 now I just want to live my second career differently to how I did in the past,” she said. “It’s been a great experience to go out of the tennis world for 18 months and to come back because I feel I grew up.”
Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen yesterday exited at the BWF World Tour Finals in China, losing in the semi-finals to China’s world No. 1 Shi Yuqi. Shi, who was named the BWF Men’s Singles Player of the Year, had a 9-4 record against Chou going into the match. He extended that record to 9-5 with a 21-14, 21-18 victory. Chou advanced to the men’s singles semi-finals on Friday by upsetting top-seeded Anders Antonsen of Denmark in a must-win match at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. The 16-21, 21-18, 21-15 victory saw Chou secure his second semi-finals appearance at the tournament, despite his relatively older
BOOT TO FACE: Wilfried Singo said that his actions were not intentional, ‘but I was able to see afterwards that’ the ’keeper had a significant face injury Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday came from behind to extend their unbeaten start to the Ligue 1 season with a 4-2 win away against AS Monaco, but lost goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to a gruesome facial injury. The bloodied Italy international was left requiring 10 staples after sustaining lacerations to the right side of his face when he was caught by the studs of Monaco defender Wilfried Singo. “I don’t know if the referee was badly positioned, but VAR [video assistant referee] needed to intervene, you have to protect the players,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “To not give a red in a situation like
India’s chess star Gukesh Dommaraju returned to a hero’s welcome in his home city yesterday after becoming the youngest world champion aged only 18. Hundreds of fans crowded the arrivals area of Chennai International Airport, cheering alongside banks of television cameras as Gukesh made his way out of the airport after victory in taking the World Chess Championship title. “It means a lot to bring back the trophy to India,” Gukesh told reporters, with garlands of flowers draped around his neck, brandishing the glittering trophy in his hand. “I can see the support and what it means to India, I
Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Friday joined Max Verstappen on stage when the Red Bull driver collected the Formula One champion’s trophy for the fourth year in a row at a ceremony held in Africa for the first time. The 27-year-old was handed the trophy by International Automobile Federation president Mohammed Ben Sulayem alongside Kagame, who had earlier spoken at the gala in Kigali of Rwanda bidding to host a race. Verstappen, who is one of only six drivers to have won four or more titles since the championship started in 1950, said he was proud of his season and everyone in
RSS