Posted on 05/14/2008 3:04:41 PM PDT by EdnaMode
LIMELETTE, Belgium (AP) — Justine Henin retired from tennis Wednesday, an abrupt ending to a short and successful career in which she won seven Grand Slam singles titles and leaves while ranked No. 1.
The 25-year-old Belgian made the surprising announcement at a news conference, less than two weeks before the start of the French Open. She has won that clay-court major championship four times, including each of the past three years.
"This is the end of a child's dream," said Henin, the first woman to retire from tennis while atop the WTA rankings. "This is a definitive decision. Those who know me know it is serious."
Her announcement came a day after one of the greatest female golfers in history said she's walking away: Annika Sorenstam, owner of 10 major titles and one of six women to complete a career Grand Slam in her sport, is retiring at the end of the season.
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
He can't. He has to surpass Sampras' record Open wins before I'll let him.
No joke. Father abandoned her when she was a child [and she still doesn't speak to him]. Mother died of CA when Justine was 12. Married at 20 and divorced at 24. Surrounded by dykes on the WTA.
Would not at all surprise me if we saw a suicide attempt out of her in the near future.
Of course, if she survives, she'll mount a comeback in a few years.
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