I... am completely gobsmacked. Can't wait to hear more, though knowing Henin, she may never want to go into full details. Wish her the best, certainly, even through my surprise.

Great player, one of the greatest one handed backhands of all time. A thing of beauty.
I always enjoyed watching her.

What in the world. I almost fell off my chair. and my heart stopped for a good minute.

"one of the greatest one handed backhands of all time"

-------

I second that Rick..

I'm not sure the last chapter of Henin's involvement in tennis is written yet. I hope it's a happy one. Thoughts go with her and her supporters.

What in the hail? I literally fell off my chair...

Hugs Samantha!

I'm totally bummed by the news. *hugs fellow Henin fans*

Wasn't expecting to read that today. She was one of my favorites, and I don't know who I'll cheer for at RG this year now. I'll miss her, especially that brilliant backhand. Such a talented, spunky player.

Thanks for the heads-up on the NPR interview. *off to listen*.
I feel so badly for Justine's fans today.

Even I had to crawl from under the couch after this. I'm shocked. I always thought Justine would get herself together and make a year out of this.

Wow.

That's a great picture of Henin and that's how she will be remembered. As the number one who retired at her almost best. I prefer that to a retirement after years of defeat and disappointment.

All I can wish is for Justine to be happy, take a good break and maybe hopefully one day come back to the circuit again and treat us with her great brand of tennis.

Now I know how tennis fans must have felt when Borg walked away at age 25. Wow!

But why wouldn't she just take a few months off and regroup? Lots of top players have done that over the years. She had a couple bad losses, so what? There must be more to this. Perhaps she is very sick?

well on a positive note, Justine said she didn't have a crystall ball so she didn't know whether she might not come back one day but then she said she knew herself well and that for her professional tennis was a page already turned...

again my brain still can't process (or refuses) this information....

Stunning!
Now I know how fans must have felt when Borg retired :((((

Justine not PLAYING TENNIS anymore. Why that's just like banana cake without the bananas. OK sorry couldn't find a better way to express it. I mean if Justine is giving up on tennis what does that say about the word motivation itself. Will have to wait and see what's really going on. I thought she'd end up stopping when she could no longer stand-she's already been through alot.

and I can't imagine that her name will be taken from the WTA's ranking list next monday already.....

hugs to all henin fans.

Good luck and best wishes to Henin. One of the best with an attractive all court game.

I just happen to remember a slow motion take of Henin's backhand. The racquethead speed and all the violence involved in it. She used every bit of her power in every backhand stroke... How the hell did she do that?

What can you say?

Thanks to Justine for an amazing few years. It's been a lot of fun to watch her play tennis.

I'm totally bummed that she's done, but when she played - what a player.

I will never forgive her for robbing Amelie of her triumph.

Maybe she knew she couldn't pass the latest drug testing?

So, it's the Australian Open final all over again.

This is absolutely stunning. Borg-esque. I wonder what's really going on.

Samantha, I'm so, so sorry. Trust me, I know what it's like for a favorite player to depart the game before her time...

thank you justine for great moments....

I will remeber Henin for that unmatched display of resolve against a tremendous Sharapova in Madrid... what a match!

How will this affect the rankings? Will Sharapova now default move up to 1?

BRAVA JUSTINE!!! You are going out on a very high note, as the UNDEFEATED and UNSEATED #1. What a class act! I will miss you and your beautiful tennis more that words can express, but I'm truly happy for you. Thank you for the most wonderful years I've spent watching tennis!

I had posted this on the Crisis Center thread before I saw there was a new dedicated thread on Justine's retirement:

Very sorry to hear about Justine's retirement; condolences especially to Samantha. Justine's game was always my favorite to watch because of its variety; I'm glad I got a chance to see her play live at the U.S. Open last year but never thought it would be my last chance. With her gone and Mauresmo in decline, there will be no one left on the women's tour to play an all-court game.
It's too bad that this is happening so soon after her most successful year, but it does allow her to go out at the top. She has had a lot of emotional changes in her life in the last year. Reuniting with her family was heartwarming news, but perhaps she really does need her old "it's me against the world" attitude (which she characterized as "hargne" in her earlier interview) in order to play her best tennis. If she feels she doesn't have the emotional resources to do that any more, I don't feel I or any outsider can tell her she has to do so.
And one never knows when a retirement is actually definitive, even if the player means it wholeheartedly at the time they announce it.

Well said, jhurwi.

beachbum..Maybe she knew she couldn't pass the latest drug testing?

u mean like martina...)

I hope she doesn't come back. Not because I didn't like her - I thought she was beautiful to watch. But you make a decision like that, you should KNOW that's what you want, not just because your seeking something else and you decide to try it. That usually ends up into people going back into the game, trying to recapture what they gave up, and the results are almost NEVER good. If she comes back in 6 months, she might still be in great form, but it will make her look like something of a flake. If she comes back in two years, she probably will do little more than sully what was a phenomenal and distinguished career.

Hope Henin fans don't take offense at my opinion - it's just my opinion. I wish she hadn't retired, but since she has, I think it's best she stays retired. Granted, I don't know all the circumstances, but that's just my two cents.

Her agent said this in Bonnie Ford's article at ESPN:
"Pound-for-pound, she was one of the best tennis players in history."
Got to agree with that.

In some ways...hard to argue with her results at the FO/USO 2007champ, wimb. semifinalist. That's a Federer-esque year right there for the history books.

Personally I wonder whether the slate of semi/full retirements on the WTA has a lot to do with (1) evolution of women's game (courts/strings/hard hitters and game of attrition) (2) Increasing $ at tournaments (meaning when players win big, less incentive to have long careers) and (3) WTA star players "backlash" against the example of Seles/Evert/Navratilova/Sabatini/Graf

By backlash I mean to say that those players - Graf, Navratilova, Sabatini, Sanchez Vicario, Evert - basically they defined themselves as tennis players and dominated/played incredibly well over 2 decades (80s/90s, 70s/80s)

The new (relatively new) WTA stars (Sharapova/Clijsters/Hingis/Williams sisters/Henin/etc) have won so much from so young, like their predecessors, but are now either retiring early or playing less. Clijsters, Davenport, Myskina, Hingis - for one reason or another, they've retired early. I have to believe that having enough $ (having the option of opting out) and reacting against the previous two generations of women's stars (looking at Sabatini/Graf/Seles, or Evert/Navratilova), and then seeing peers (Kournikova/Clijsters/Myskina) retire early from the sport and start families/pursue whatever interests.

25 to these ladies is the new 29/30/31/32.

They simply dont "have" to play anymore, they are retiring with plenty of $$$, and they probably look at previous generations and say "I will not sacrifice more...I have already given enough to the sport and benefitted handomsely from it)...

While the early retirement keeps the door open for a return (who strikes the ball as well as Henin, or even Kimmie - who outlasts her?), my sense is that Myskina looked around and said "I've reached my potential"; diddo for Henin, who looks at Kimmie and maybe thinks "Kim did it...I have no reason to soldier on, I am comfortable not having won Wimbledon." Before you know it, I wonder if Sharapova will reassess her options. She looks behind her and sees the Williams era coming to a close, she figures she can stay ahead of other competitors, and sees the finish line around 25.

Must say there is no greater influence than peer pressure, even if someone like Agassi overcomes it. In the women's game, signals, to me, point to a new trend.

25 is the new 31.

Listening to NPR, no Pete...

It's a sad for tennis perhaps but it shouldn't be an "obituary" for Justine. She looked very calm and beautiful, serene about her decision.

She's not done completely with tennis, there are her academies...it's not like she is disappearing from the surface of the earth, as long as she is happy, she just made the best decision.

Her agent said this in Bonnie Ford's article at ESPN:
"Pound-for-pound, she was one of the best tennis players in history."
Got to agree with that.

In some ways...hard to argue with her results at the FO/USO 2007champ, wimb. semifinalist. That's a Federer-esque year right there for the history books.

Personally I wonder whether the slate of semi/full retirements on the WTA has a lot to do with (1) evolution of women's game (courts/strings/hard hitters and game of attrition) (2) Increasing $ at tournaments (meaning when players win big, less incentive to have long careers) and (3) WTA star players "backlash" against the example of Seles/Evert/Navratilova/Sabatini/Graf

By backlash I mean to say that those players - Graf, Navratilova, Sabatini, Sanchez Vicario, Evert - basically they defined themselves as tennis players and dominated/played incredibly well over 2 decades (80s/90s, 70s/80s)

The new (relatively new) WTA stars (Sharapova/Clijsters/Hingis/Williams sisters/Henin/etc) have won so much from so young, like their predecessors, but are now either retiring early or playing less. Clijsters, Davenport, Myskina, Hingis - for one reason or another, they've retired early. I have to believe that having enough $ (having the option of opting out) and reacting against the previous two generations of women's stars (looking at Sabatini/Graf/Seles, or Evert/Navratilova), and then seeing peers (Kournikova/Clijsters/Myskina) retire early from the sport and start families/pursue whatever interests.

25 to these ladies is the new 29/30/31/32.

They simply dont "have" to play anymore, they are retiring with plenty of $$$, and they probably look at previous generations and say "I will not sacrifice more...I have already given enough to the sport and benefitted handomsely from it)...

While the early retirement keeps the door open for a return (who strikes the ball as well as Henin, or even Kimmie - who outlasts her?), my sense is that Myskina looked around and said "I've reached my potential"; diddo for Henin, who looks at Kimmie and maybe thinks "Kim did it...I have no reason to soldier on, I am comfortable not having won Wimbledon." Before you know it, I wonder if Sharapova will reassess her options. She looks behind her and sees the Williams era coming to a close, she figures she can stay ahead of other competitors, and sees the finish line around 25.

Must say there is no greater influence than peer pressure, even if someone like Agassi overcomes it. In the women's game, signals, to me, point to a new trend.

25 is the new 31.

We will miss her. The contrast between her shots, her movement, and that of the rest of the players was notorious. She was by far, in current tennis, the best player to watch as a fan. The rest of the player with few exceptions play the same game. It was always interesting so see her mach ups with the power hitters like Sharapova or the Williams sisters. It is not that Justine would not play fast tennis, but simply she used other weapons apart from power, top spin, slices, volleys, the way she used her legs and body to impose more power on her shots etc.

I am sorry for you Samanatha Elin. I am sure that now you will understand our feelings when Hingis also announced her retirement. It is not the same thing to follow the tour, when your fav. player is not around, but well, there is always upcoming talents, new players to follow. And who knows, maybe in a couple of years, Justine returns, she is just 25. People can change their minds.

ryan: about the ranking, justine said her name will be taken away from the list on monday. Maria will be de facto number 1. With Ana Ivanovic crashing out from Rome today, Maria was going to consolidate her number 2 ranking anyway.

Hi Pete hi everyone, these is my first post here after been a "closeted" reader for a while. I post these because of the shock, even more knowing that there is not a big health issue surrounding her decision.

Is this the first time a number 1 female retires while been number 1? Terrible news for tennis, great news for Sharapova

Listening to npr.org too. Is there a particular station Pete's on? Or he's not on yet?

Black Matt: This Henin fan is not offended - I think you bring up some very good points.

good news for serena, and sad news for tennis. there must be something in the water in belgium.

I suspect that Justine's sudden announcement is showing us again just how much it takes and takes out of these players to stay at the top.

Regularly on this post we go up and down far too much based on matches that often hinge on a couple of key points. Most of us would consider the pro tour life in a candy shop if we had the talent, but we really don't know.

In addition, 25 seems incredibly young to me and to many of you. But perhaps the concept of dog years should be invoked in that it appears that giving your all on today's tennis tour ages one much mnore than the calendar ticks off. We see the carnage, physical and emotional, in players like Borg, Clistyers, Johannsen, Hingis. It has been hinted to be factors in the Williams sisters, Nadal, and we have half of us thinking Federer is over the hill at age 26.

I add my selfish desires to the rest of you as we bemoan the loss of one of the wonders of the sporting world, Justine's backhand. As Amelie seems on the decline, many of us may never see such glorious majesty again on the women's tour. We are losing diversity, imagination, and, frankly, beauty.

To be sure, Jusinte and Kim may come back like Martina H and Lindsay have. They both have time to become mothers and still take a curtain call with less pressure, but we cannot count on it. Do we have any role in devouring our heroines or is it built into the system.

Oh goodness! I did not expect that!

Hugs to all Henin fans, this must come as such a shock.

She's one of my favourite female players to watch, and I can't bring myself to type 'was'. (I don't watch many women's matches but she's one of the few I'd tune in for).

Thanks, for the memories,
The women's game was dim,
Then came Justine and Kim,
And now they've left,
The game's bereft,
Of talent filled to brim,
But thanks for these past years,

Thanks, for the memories,
That forehand was so fine,
The backhand pure sublime,
The movement too,
As only you,
Could show us how you'd shine,
So thank you, Ms. Justine,

Thanks, for the memories,
You were the best by far,
We'll never see a star,
Who has such shots,
Or picks her spots,
You really raised the bar,
So thank you, from my heart.

Thanks, for the memories,
So small and yet so fast,
And though it couldn't last,
It's much too soon,
Not even June,
And now only the past,
I'll miss you, sweet Justine,

Thanks, for the tennis, too,
We'll never see your game,
The rest are all the same,
Your brilliance shone,
And now I'll groan,
But bright will be your fame,
So thanks for all the joy.

Thanks, for the fans you made,
Samantha and the rest,
Our hearts thump in our chest,
So sad this day,
You've gone away,
But thankful we were blessed,
So thank you, our Justine.

FYI - Just finished NPR, I believe it was the LA affiliate . ..

I can't help wondering if Yuri Sharapov's throat-slitting gesture had some impact on Henin. If so, then Sharapov won, but I can assure you it's a Pyrrhic victory.

to samantha, ali c, sam, and all the other justine henin fans in tw:

my commiserations and big fat embraces to you.

it feels like a borg and hingis retirement indeed. au revoir, justine. tu seras etre toujours NUMBER ONE. retiring as world number one will be frozen in everyone's hearts and minds for a long time to come. a coup de justine, indeed. :)

oh bob! you're here!!!! *hugs bob tightly*

i will never forget how staunchly you defended justine in the pre-steggy days here at tw...

I just dont know what to say....
Justine, u r and u will always be the greatest tennis player!
In Serbia, we have a song that goes: Mala zena od velike sladja... It means litle woman cuter than big one :)
Goodbye champ!

Great boem, Bob.

ks

Well, Justine always did things her own way, didn't she, Svelte. =)

I've got to run...being away from the computer is probably a good thing, but being away from the Tribe is tougher. Hugs, guys. I'll catch you later.

I am very shocked. I can't understand why she won't just play the French Open as her last tournament. Oh well, au revoir indeed. Sad day for tennis.

sally

there was an ad about one of belgium's water brands, chaudfontaine. the guy was walking down a beautiful hill in the ardennes, where the water is bottled. he told the camera, "you belgians are so lucky... you don't know what you have."

to be a step more absurd, justine would prolly be drinking more the water of monte carlo, no? since she lives there? unless she's back here in belgium :)

I can't believe this, the more I think about it, the more I think Justine must have a serious knee issue, or some perhaps a combination of other heath issues. I just can't imagine that she'd walk away for no reason—she paid too high a price and worked too hard to get to where she is today.

She will be sorely missed, I can think of no other woman on tour now, or ever, that I would prefer to watch.

Bon voyage, Justine.

i meant nothing against belgium, it's a wonderful country, i would love to go there one day. yes she is very lucky to be from there.

oh bob

your poem made me cry. such a tribute. not only to justine (who today looked as you described: sweet.) but also to kim and to tennis.

the golden age of belgian tennis came to an end today.

yes ali

she always did things her way. a champion's way.

This news comes as a total shock to me. When I first read about the report from the Belgian newspapers, I was really hoping they were just rumors but I guess this announcement makes it crystal clear and oh so true.

Justine is the only player I still watch in the women's tour. Her brilliant, artistic game and her stout heart and iron will made me root for her at the time when celebrity supernovas were dominating the scene. She will definitely be missed.

I wish you well, Justine. May you enjoy good health, have bountiful love, peace and happiness and bask in this new chapter, new beginning in your young life. Godspeed!

Something is wrong with her. That's been obvious since the AO. She's very private, but clearly there are health problems she's never discussed. For her to walk away without defending her RG titles, and to try to get her Wimbledon, says volumes. There is something she's not saying, which she knows will prevent her from playing well again. Every player has temporary problems, and she's certainly had her share of health issues, but to walk away forever at 25, when she was totally dominant six months ago, is just astonishing. Her last sets in every match have been horrible this year, so it must be some major physical problem, like that CMV she had.

I can't believe she's gone.

Ali: Interestingly, someone in our lab was playing Sinatra's "My Way" a few minutes ago

Bob: Great poem.

sally

that's ok, i just remembered that advertisement from chaudfontaine.. especially since it was the bottle of water that carlos was drinking at the press conference after he got emotional. he was drinking the "plat" (or flat, as they say in nederlands/flemish) variety, the one without bubbles.

Nooooooo. :( Justine... No! :(
That's so sad.. It seems so silly, so disappointing. I'm sure she has her reasons, but it's incredibly disappointing.

She was by far my favorite player on the womens side.. :(
Wow...

I add my voice to those who think there's something underlying this that we don't know. I would have totally expected her to show up in RG. Can you imagine if Rafa retired tomorrow instead of defending his title? That's how this looks, just absolutely stunning all around, especially coming two weeks before the French Open.

This news comes as a total shock to me. When I first read about the report from the Belgian newspapers, I was really hoping they were just rumors but I guess this announcement makes it crystal clear and oh so true.

Justine is the only player I still watch in the women's tour. Her brilliant, artistic game and her stout heart and iron will made me root for her at the time when celebrity supernovas were dominating the scene. She will definitely be missed.

I wish you well, Justine. May you enjoy good health, have bountiful love, peace and happiness and bask in this new chapter, new beginning in your young life. Godspeed!

Thanks, Svelterouge. It's an incredibly sad day for me, and I'm sure for Samantha, Sam, Ali C, and so many others. She could have won three or four more slams, and another Olympic Gold. She was unbeatable six months ago. I just can't imagine tennis without her. We'll never see anoher one-handed backhand near the top of women's tennis, nor a small player. She had it all, and though I knew I'd only see her for a few more years, I never imagined this. I'm just stunned.

Now that I have read Justine's press conference via Swiss Viking on the Crisis Center thread, consimmerations to Samantha Elin, Ali C, Sam, Bob, and all of Justine's fans.

Justine Henin 493-107 with 41 titles.

7 Slams:
Australian Open - 2004
French Open - 2003,2005,2006,2007
United States Open - 2003,2007

First career title won - 1999 Antwerp defeating Sarah Pitkowski
Last career title won - 2008 Antwerp defeating Karin Knapp

Also, the WTA website link:

http://tinyurl.com/5zjrbo

Tennis will miss Justine Henin.

sam in black

we in the philippines follow the chinese tradition of wearing white when someone dies. during funerals, it is beautiful to behold, especially when you see the relatives and friends gathered on the grass around the grave... like white flowers of hope.

i realise that your heart is draped in the deepest black today. please accept my big fat hug to you.

> "...We'll never see anoher one-handed backhand near the top of women's tennis, nor a small player..."

Yes we will.

ks

i am with you there, bob and sher.

Oh, please. Justine is making a huge mistake. She is abandoning the one thing she is good at, simply because she has lost interest. The description of her beaming at her press conference makes me think that she will soon miss that kind of attention. I can’t think of a better example of hubris.

Sorry for the tone but if someone who is perfectly healthy throws away a good gig, I personally don’t find it very compelling. Go, Justine. Just go.

svelterogue and others - Thanks for the hugs and good thoughts.

Swiss Viking - Thanks for the press conference translation on the CC thread.

I still cant believe it. She is my favourite female player.....

Hugs to Samantha too.

Is her retirement immediate? Does it means she is not going for to defend her FO title and not even try to win the only slam that she does not win (Wimby)?

What a sad sad day for tennis. I for one, wants her to at least win one Wimby.

OR is she retiring at the end of the year (wishing, hoping)?

stunning news. Pete - did anyone in the tennis community suspect this or see it coming?

aw creig! :)

you are too cute.

master ace

i just popped open a can of 50 cl belgian ale, a mild brew, but a leuven brew, and the oldest in the world: stella artois!

kampai, justine! je was de beste! (you were the best) :)

Pierre, I'm sure she's "good" at many things, but tennis isn't one of them -- at tennis she's great.

>we in the philippines follow the chinese tradition of wearing white when someone dies. during funerals, it is beautiful to behold, especially when you see the relatives and friends gathered on the grass around the grave... like white flowers of hope.

beautiful description... :)

Bob, my feelings exactly. I don't think Justine would walk away from tennis without an extremely serious issue. I remember when Kim Clijsters announced her retirement Justine made is very clear that intends to play for a long time.
Graf, Clijsters, Hingis, Seles, (Pierce and Capriati are as good as retired)- none of them really retired on their own terms. Unlike Evert or Navratilova, Graf was forced to retire because of her knee injury (that kept her out of the game for most of '97 and 98)while still playing top two tennis. I do think Henin is dealing with some serious injury.
Someone brought up Sabatini- she too retired in her mid 20s.

Ugh.

Never a huge Henin fan myself, I rue the miffed rivalry between she and Serena that just become compelling. I thought Borg's example would be enough for any player thinking of retiring before their time. I am sorry for her true fans. Tennis is lesser for it.

Limbo, "announced her immediate retirement from the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour", unfortunately. :(

Can i say I just told a friend last week Henin will retire this year??? Seriously I did.

I was not surprised at all --- she is a perfectionist and to have achieved $5million in one season and win 2 GS in 2007 ( beating Serena 3 times... and back=to=back williams sisters in USO) -- it is hard to top that again this year -- with a resurgent serena and sharapova.... she has lost abit of that hunger, and of course -- we speculate about her health.

Her losses this year speak volumes . more than just her announcement.. for whatever reasons we may speculate , it is her life. She will no doubt continue to contribute to tennis, which has defined her thus far.

Sad for women's tennis...... and so we got to move on.....

[Henin is the first current world No.1 to retire from professional tennis, and only the fifth Top 5 retiree, after Margaret Court in 1977 (No.5), Chris Evert in 1989 (No.4), Steffi Graf in 1999 (No.3), and fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters in 2007 (No.4).]

What a company!

Lyndsay came back after having a child, Hingis came back, I think after a long rest Henin will miss tennis and come back. I highly doubt we've seen the end of Justine...

Svelterogue,
Drink one for me in saying thanks to Justine for the memories that she has provided in tennis.

It is indeed a sad day. Initially, I was not a fan of her but over the years I have come to admire her ambition and talent.
I do hope she changes her mind and makes a comeback and wins Wimbledon.

limbo

it's a definitive retirement effective immediately.

master ace

am nursing my beer. of late, when tennis makes me sad, i turn to beer. it's definitely a belgian legacy i shall take with me when i go home to the philippines for good this year.

sher

what esteemed company indeed!

oh no. i already know how i will feel when roger retires. (justine made me cry, roger will prolly make me cry more)

Reaction from Ana Ivanovic and Larry Scott:

Ivanovic's reaction to Henin's retirement:

"She was a great player and achieved so much. She brought a lot to the women's game. She had completely different game than any other girl on the tour probably. She worked really hard and last year she had amazing results. You know, it's just I'm sorry to hear this thing, but it's her own feeling and her own decision... She was No. 1 for so long, so she had very successful career.

"Definitely, the news is very surprising, but my goals haven't changed about my position, where I stand. I still have to work hard for it."

The TickerReaction from WTA CEO Larry Scott to Henin's retirement:

"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. 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.

History will remember Justine for not only her seven Grand Slam titles and three years finishing as the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s World No. 1, but for one of the most graceful backhands the sport has ever seen and an ability to overcome any and all obstacles placed in her way on the tennis court and off.

This is a sad day for our sport and for her millions of fans around the world, but I know that I speak for so many in wishing Justine the very best in her future endeavors and hope that she will stay connected to the sport to which she gave so much.”

I'm still shocked
that pic of carlos crying is very touching

svelterogue: teehee. Deep down, you love him. I hope that day doesn't come for many years.

I felt my eyes get wet a bit and I'm not even a big Henin fan. It just seems so...sudden, and there will be something lacking stylistically on tour.

In contrast, I felt that with Sampras, he chose the perfect time to retire, and with Agassi, that it was high time that he should retire, given his physical difficulties (and the fact that he had sustained a high level until the age of 35-36!)

Henin told reporters today: [reported by Bloomberg News.]

``I have no regrets, I want to have my adult life. I want to make choices,'' Henin said. ``It's like a new start for me. Most people my age are in school or starting work, and I have the impression I've already lived three lives.''

``I took the decision for myself,'' Henin said today. ``It's to breathe again.''

sorry that was me at 12:19

I have to say, as stunned as I am right now, I'll be more stunned in 2 years if she hasn't returned.

Is she going to play the FO and then leave?

Well, that was a lovely stomach punch to start my Internet surfing for the day.

Bob, beautifully and poignantly said.

"I can't believe she's gone." Shades of Jim McKay.

What is perplexing about this is that she was on top of the world just six months ago. Now out of the game. One would indeed think that this pugnacious maximizer of talent, who showed incredible moxie as a physically unimposing teenager and only continued to will herself to greater feats of excellence, must be confronting something ominous. To not defend her French Open title is, to say the least, alarming.

I can't shake the feeling myself that in a year, she'll be back. But if not, my goodness, what a thunderbolt.

Serena and Federer (who's shocked that she'd leave before defending the FO and trying for Wimbly--you can see how his mind works):

"She was a great champion and she gave me a world of trouble, so I hope the best for her. She had a great year last year. ... Gosh, what can you say about such a champion? I don't think we have enough time." — American player Serena Williams.

"It's obviously a shock for the tennis world. It's particularly surprising that it came one month before the French Open and two months before Wimbledon, which she has never won. It's unfortunate she is out of the game, but she would have had her reasons." — top-ranked men's player Roger Federer.

justine, it's not too late to change your mind. Please come back, tennis needs you, especially it needs you to have a long career. Put things in perspective: all the tennis players are having slumps right now. I know you said your decision is definitive, but I don't believe you, you wouldn't have been so emotional at your press conference.

Have to think the CMV is an issue. It probably flared after such a rigorous 07, and she is perhaps afraid to go full out. Taking the rest of the year off would help, but emotionally it no longer added up. She didn't want to go out a shadow of herself. Selfishly, I'm sad we didn't get to see the next round of her rivalry with Serena. Ironic in a way. Getting beaten consistently by Justine probably stoked the fire in Serena to rededicate herself to tennis. As Pete said, these are people, not just meat puppets for us. Best of luck Justine!!

Her losses this year have been unpredictable - that I would say.

- Started year off well with a win - still beating top players (Sydney)

- Gets wiped off court in QF with Sharapova (Worst loss, 6-4, 6-0 to Sharapova. Usually she plays that match better)

- Goes to Antwerp. Beats up on the players there and wins

- Loses to Schiavone in Dubai. Bad loss (close, 7-6, 7-6) but she owned Schiavone.

- Loses to Serena Williams in QF in Miami. Her worst loss (6-2, 6-0) to Serena, ever. They had been tied in their battle (6-6) up to that point, with Justine having won 6/7 sets they had played in the three majors they faced off after Miami 2007.

- Loses to Safina in 3 sets. Previously she had been 5-0 against Safina, and had won every set they played.

16-4 in 2008; clearly not at her best, but nothing to frown on.

I'm not really a Henin fan, BUT WTF!! I turned on the computer to check the scores in Rome and I like caught my breath...Personally, I know I don't know all the circumstances to this retirement or what is going on behind closed doors, but I truly wish she could have played the French and Wimbledon one last time...to this day, the only Grand Slam match I have ever seen in person was the 2007 French Open Women's Final between her and Ivanovic, so Henin will always have a special place in my tennis heart...but I must say, that match did kind of suck to pay for and go to because it was over too quickly...Allez Justine!!