General / Barry Millns / 15 May 2008 /

Sky Sports tennis commentator Barry Millns pays tribute to the diminutive Belgian, one of the most graceful players of the modern age

Put in the most simple terms, women's tennis will be worse off without Justine Henin. The world No.1's decision to retire aged only 25 has undoubtedly come as a great shock to the tennis fraternity and leaves a void that will be hard to fill.

When so much of the women's game these days is about repetitive ball belting from the baseline, the diminutive Belgian has thankfully provided more variety and subtlety than most with her unique style and craft, plus one of the most beautiful backhands ever seen.

To think that we will no longer be able to admire that great shot in live action is sad indeed but from Henin's own point of view, after giving yet another major decision in her life serious thought, she is in no doubt that walking away is the right thing to do.

"This is the end of a child's dream," said the reigning French Open, US Open and Olympic champion. "I have experienced everything I could have. I have lived completely for tennis. I am relieved and proud of what I achieved."

From the moment Henin turned professional back in 1999 and won her very first WTA tournament in Antwerp (where she also won the last of her 41 career titles back in February) it has been fascinating to see how the slightly-built slip of a girl has fought her way to the top of the women's game, adapting and strengthening her own along the way to beat numerous bigger and more powerful athletes.

The combination of her talent, technical skills, speed around the court, plus a fiercely competitive spirit have been fundamental to her winning seven grand slams and nearly $20 million in prize money. That such success has been set against a back-drop of personal upheavals, including the death of her mother when Justine was only 12, estrangement for years from her father and siblings (now happily reconciled), plus the break-up of her five-year marriage in 2007, has made it even more remarkable.

So it is not hard to see from where she has drawn her inspiration and motivation under the sympathetic but demanding gaze of her long-time coach Carlos Rodriguez. Yet through her harsh experiences of life, including a vulnerability to illnesses and injuries, has also come a great sense of realism.

Having ended a career-best season in 2007, for which she was named the Laureus World Sportswomen of the Year, Henin's results in 2008 have failed to match up to her very high standards. Two in particular suggested she no longer had the will to fight on at such a level - a 6-4, 6-0 dismissal by Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open and a 6-2, 6-0 crushing by Serena Williams in Miami.

Currently trading as the [2.46] favourite to win this week's Italian Open in Rome, Williams said of her Belgian rival: "She was a great champion and gave me so much trouble." Serena's sister Venus [6.8] added: "She was a great opponent and a real fighter. She always challenged herself to play her best tennis, no matter what the circumstances."

Only last weekend the WTA Tour filmed many of its star players around the streets of Rome as part of a new multi-million dollar 'Superhero' marketing campaign. For some involved such a tag is rather overdoing it but in Henin's case, had she been present, it would have been more appropriate.

She may have lacked the glamour of many of her rivals, promoted so heavily these days by the WTA Tour. But even Larry Scott, its chairman and chief executive officer, recognised the real substance which the Belgian brought to women's tennis and which will be sorely missed in the future.

"Justine Henin will be remembered as one of the all-time great champions in women's tennis, and a woman who made up for her lack of size with a will to win and fighting spirit that was second to none," said Scott.

"It is rare that an athlete leaves at the very top of her game in this day and age, but Justine has always played by her own rules, in the very best sense of those words."

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