tennisIlove09
Feb 25th, 2005, 02:20 AM
Henin-Hardenne Hits Sunshine State
http://www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/HeninserveAusOpenSIGGI.jpg
Photo By Siggi Bucher By Tennis Week
02/24/2005
Justine Henin-Hardenne is slathering on the sun screen and will be sweating out training sessions on the court in Saddlebrook this week. The former No. 1 left Belgium to begin training in Saddlebrook, Florida for a possible return to tournament tennis during the upcoming American swing of the WTA Tour.
The 15th-ranked Henin-Hardenne, who was prevented from defending her Australian Open title last month when a knee injury knocked her out of the season's first Slam, reports that her knee is pain free. While she has not yet set an official date for her comeback, Henin-Hardenne has been training in Belgium and the move to Florida may be a sign she's strongly considering returning to the WTA Tour to defend her Pacific Life Open title in Indian Wells next month.
"It’s true that my training goes well. I don’t feel any pain in my knee anymore," the Olympic gold medallist told her official web site Henin-Hardenne.be. (http://www.henin-hardenne.be/)"Now it’s time to prepare myself in Saddlebrook."
The three-time Grand Slam champion sustained a "minor fracture of the bone in the right knee" during practice last month that forced her to pull out of the Australian Open.
Henin-Hardenne, who frequently trains in Saddlebrook in the off season, has not played a match since losing to Nadia Petrova, 6-3, 6-2, in the fourth round of the U.S. Open last September. A viral infection called cytomegalovirus that sapped her strength limited Henin-Hardenne to nine tournaments in 2004. She won five of the nine events she entered and posted a 35-4 record.
She did not target a definitive date for her return, but Henin-Hardenne vowed to be fully fit when she does launch her comeback.
"It’s hard for me to say when and where I’ll make my comeback in the competition," Henin-Hardenne said. "But I’ll certainly make sure that I’m in the best shape I can be. The most important thing for me is to be back on the courts and to be able to do what I like most: tennis."
Widely respected as one of the fittest and hardest-working players on the WTA Tour, Henin-Hardenne has said her heavy workload on and off court contributed to "burnout".
"It was more than a viral infection. I think it was a burnout," Henin-Hardenne last month in comments reprinted by Reuters. "In 2003, I played so many matches and worked so hard that I really never stopped playing, never took a break. This kind of thing happens to all of us."
http://www.sportsmediainc.net/tennisweek/HeninserveAusOpenSIGGI.jpg
Photo By Siggi Bucher By Tennis Week
02/24/2005
Justine Henin-Hardenne is slathering on the sun screen and will be sweating out training sessions on the court in Saddlebrook this week. The former No. 1 left Belgium to begin training in Saddlebrook, Florida for a possible return to tournament tennis during the upcoming American swing of the WTA Tour.
The 15th-ranked Henin-Hardenne, who was prevented from defending her Australian Open title last month when a knee injury knocked her out of the season's first Slam, reports that her knee is pain free. While she has not yet set an official date for her comeback, Henin-Hardenne has been training in Belgium and the move to Florida may be a sign she's strongly considering returning to the WTA Tour to defend her Pacific Life Open title in Indian Wells next month.
"It’s true that my training goes well. I don’t feel any pain in my knee anymore," the Olympic gold medallist told her official web site Henin-Hardenne.be. (http://www.henin-hardenne.be/)"Now it’s time to prepare myself in Saddlebrook."
The three-time Grand Slam champion sustained a "minor fracture of the bone in the right knee" during practice last month that forced her to pull out of the Australian Open.
Henin-Hardenne, who frequently trains in Saddlebrook in the off season, has not played a match since losing to Nadia Petrova, 6-3, 6-2, in the fourth round of the U.S. Open last September. A viral infection called cytomegalovirus that sapped her strength limited Henin-Hardenne to nine tournaments in 2004. She won five of the nine events she entered and posted a 35-4 record.
She did not target a definitive date for her return, but Henin-Hardenne vowed to be fully fit when she does launch her comeback.
"It’s hard for me to say when and where I’ll make my comeback in the competition," Henin-Hardenne said. "But I’ll certainly make sure that I’m in the best shape I can be. The most important thing for me is to be back on the courts and to be able to do what I like most: tennis."
Widely respected as one of the fittest and hardest-working players on the WTA Tour, Henin-Hardenne has said her heavy workload on and off court contributed to "burnout".
"It was more than a viral infection. I think it was a burnout," Henin-Hardenne last month in comments reprinted by Reuters. "In 2003, I played so many matches and worked so hard that I really never stopped playing, never took a break. This kind of thing happens to all of us."