Justine Henin: The Life Story Behind Belgium's Tennis Queen

Justine Henin was small, and she knew it. She was five feet five inches tall, she was light, and she played in an era when women’s tennis was becoming bigger, stronger, and more powerful every year. She could not win by hitting the ball harder than everyone else, because she did not have that kind of size. She won by hitting the ball better, by moving faster, by thinking clearer, and by playing a one-handed backhand that people still call one of the most beautiful shots in the history of the game.

Her story begins with loss. When she was twelve years old, her mother died, and her family was broken. Her father and her brothers grieved, and Justine grieved in her own way, on a tennis court, hitting a ball again and again, trying to find a place where the pain made sense. Tennis became her home, and her coach became a second father, and the court became the place where she could be herself.

This is the story of a girl from Liege who became the best player in the world, who won seven Grand Slam singles titles, who won an Olympic gold medal, who retired while she was still number one, who came back, and who had to stop again because her body would not let her go on. It is a story about grief, about a backhand, about clay, and about a woman who played tennis with her whole heart.

A Childhood in Liege Cut Short by Loss

Justine Henin was born on 1 June 1982 in Liege, in the French-speaking part of Belgium. She was the third of four children, and she grew up in a family that loved sport. Her father, Jose, worked in the steel industry, and her mother, Francoise, was a teacher. Tennis was a family game, and Justine began to play when she was young, on the courts near her home. She was small, but she was quick, and she loved the game.

When she was twelve, her mother died of cancer. It was a loss that changed everything. Her family was shattered, and Justine was left without the person who had been the centre of her life. She has spoken about how hard those years were, and about how she struggled to understand why her mother had gone. She found comfort in tennis, and she practised harder than ever, as if the court could hold the grief that her home could not.

Her father did his best, but the family was not the same. Justine became close to her coach, Carlos Rodriguez, who would become one of the most important people in her life. Rodriguez was from Argentina, and he understood tennis, and he understood Justine. He became a father figure to her, and he helped her to believe in herself when she did not believe in herself. He taught her to play with courage, and he taught her to trust her backhand, and he stayed with her for most of her career.

She also had a difficult relationship with her father and her brothers for a time, and the family was divided. That division was painful, and it stayed with her for many years. She did not speak about it much in public, but it was a part of her story, and it made her stronger in some ways, and more fragile in others. She learned to rely on herself, and on the small circle of people who believed in her, and that self-reliance became a large part of who she was as a player.

Learning the Backhand That Would Define Her

Henin turned professional in 1999, when she was seventeen, and she began to play on the women’s tour. She was small, she was light, and she did not have a big serve. What she had was a one-handed backhand that was already beautiful, and a forehand that was strong, and a mind that was fierce. She could hit the backhand with power, with spin, and with placement, and she could hit it from anywhere on the court. It was a shot that made people stop and watch, because it was so clean and so graceful.

Her coach, Carlos Rodriguez, built her game around that backhand. He taught her to use it to open the court, to hit winners down the line, and to change the direction of a rally in a single shot. He also taught her to move well, to be fit, and to fight for every point. She was not the biggest player, but she was one of the fittest, and she could run for a long time without getting tired. That fitness gave her a chance against bigger players, because she could stay in a rally until they made a mistake.

In her early years, she won titles, and she climbed the rankings. She won her first title in Antwerp in 2001, and she reached the final of Wimbledon that same year, losing to Venus Williams. It was a sign that she belonged at the top. She was nineteen, and she was already playing in Grand Slam finals. She was still learning, but she was learning fast, and her backhand was becoming famous.

She also began to win on clay, which would become her favourite surface. Clay suited her game, because it gave her time to hit her backhand, and because it rewarded patience and spin. She won the French Open for the first time in 2003, beating Kim Clijsters, her fellow Belgian, in the final. It was a win that meant a great deal to Belgium, because two Belgian women were in the final, and one of them had to win. Henin won, and she became a national hero.

Paris, Clay, and Four French Open Crowns

The French Open in Paris became Henin’s home. She won it in 2003, in 2005, in 2006, and in 2007, four times in five years, and she became one of the greatest clay-court players in the history of women’s tennis. She played on the red clay of Roland Garros with a grace that no one else could match. Her backhand, her movement, and her mind all came together on clay, and she was almost unbeatable there.

In 2003, she beat Clijsters in the final, in straight sets, and she announced herself as a Grand Slam champion. In 2005, she beat Mary Pierce in the final, and she showed that she could win even when she was not at her best. In 2006, she beat Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final, and she completed a year in which she reached the final of all four Grand Slams, winning one and losing three. In 2007, she beat Ana Ivanovic in the final, and she won her fourth French Open title. She was the queen of Paris, and the crowd loved her for it.

She also won the US Open in 2003 and in 2007, and she won the Australian Open in 2004. She won seven Grand Slam singles titles in total, and she was world number one for more than one hundred weeks. She was the best player in the world, and she was the smallest player at the top, and she proved that size is not the only thing that matters in tennis. Her backhand, her footwork, and her fighting spirit were enough.

Her rivalry with Clijsters was a large part of Belgian tennis history. The two women were from the same small country, they were the same age, and they were both at the top of the game. They played each other many times, and their matches were followed by the whole of Belgium. Henin won more of their big matches, especially at the French Open, but Clijsters was a great rival, and the two women pushed each other to be better. It was a rivalry that made Belgian tennis famous around the world.

Olympic Gold in Athens and the Year of Everything

In 2004, Henin won the Olympic gold medal at the Athens Games, beating Amelie Mauresmo of France in the final. It was a win that meant a great deal to her, because the Olympics are special, and because she had fought hard to get there. She had been ill earlier in the year, and she had missed tournaments, but she came back in time for Athens, and she played some of the best tennis of her life. The gold medal was a reward for her courage, and it was a moment she would never forget.

The year 2007 was the best year of her career. She won the French Open, she won the US Open, she won ten titles in total, and she was world number one by a large margin. She played with a confidence that was almost frightening, and she beat everyone she faced. She was at the peak of her powers, and she seemed unbeatable. She was twenty-five years old, and she was the best player in the world, and the future looked bright.

But behind the success, there were problems. Her marriage to Pierre-Yves Hardenne, which had begun in 2002, was ending, and she was going through a divorce. Her family life was still difficult, and she was tired. She had been playing tennis since she was a child, and she had been carrying the grief of her mother’s death, and the pressure of being number one, for many years. She was strong, but she was also exhausted, and the exhaustion was beginning to show.

She also had injuries, and her body was beginning to break down. She played through pain, and she won through pain, but the pain was getting worse. She knew that she could not keep going at the same pace forever, and she began to think about stopping. That thought would become a decision, and the decision would shock the tennis world.

Retiring While Number One

In May 2008, when she was twenty-five and still world number one, Justine Henin announced her retirement from professional tennis. It was a shock, because no player had ever retired while holding the top ranking. She said she was tired, and that she had lost the desire to compete, and that she wanted to live a different life. She had won seven Grand Slam titles, she had won an Olympic gold medal, and she had been the best player in the world. She felt she had done enough, and she wanted to stop.

Many people did not understand. She was young, she was the best, and she could have won more. But Henin knew herself, and she knew that she could not keep playing without the fire that had driven her. She had played tennis to escape grief, to honour her mother, and to prove herself, and she had done all of those things. Now she wanted to rest, and to find out who she was without tennis.

She stayed away from the game for a year and a half. She worked with a charity for children, she travelled, and she lived a quieter life. She also reconciled with her family, and she began to heal the divisions that had been there since her mother’s death. It was a time of rest, and of reflection, and it gave her a new perspective on her life and her career.

But tennis was still a part of her, and she missed it. In 2009, she announced that she would come back, and the tennis world was excited. She was twenty-seven, she was fit, and she believed she could win again. She returned in 2010, and she played well, reaching the final of the Australian Open, where she lost to Serena Williams. It was a remarkable comeback, and it showed that her talent had not gone away.

The Comeback and the Elbow That Ended It

Henin’s comeback in 2010 was promising, but it was also short. She reached the final of the Australian Open, she won titles, and she climbed back into the top twenty. She was playing well, and she was enjoying tennis again, in a way she had not enjoyed it before. She was older, she was wiser, and she was playing for herself, not for anyone else. It felt like a new beginning.

But in June 2010, at Wimbledon, she injured her elbow in a match against Kim Clijsters. She fell, and she hurt her arm, and she had to stop playing. She tried to come back, but the injury was serious, and it would not heal properly. She missed the rest of the season, and she had to have treatment and rehabilitation. In January 2011, she announced her retirement for a second time, at the age of twenty-eight, because her elbow would not let her play at the level she wanted.

It was a sad end to a great career, but it was also a fitting end in some ways. She had come back because she loved tennis, and she had left because her body would not let her play. She had nothing left to prove, and she had given everything she had. She retired with seven Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, and a reputation as one of the greatest players of her generation.

After retirement, she became a mother, and she worked in tennis as a coach and as a commentator. She opened a tennis academy in Belgium, and she helped young players to learn the game. She also reconciled fully with her family, and she became close to her father and her brothers again. The girl who had lost her mother at twelve had become a woman who had found peace, and who had built a new life after tennis.

Carlos Rodriguez: The Coach Who Became Family

No story of Justine Henin is complete without Carlos Rodriguez, the Argentine coach who became a father figure to her after her mother died. Rodriguez met Henin when she was a teenager, and he saw a small girl with a great backhand and a fierce will. He became her coach, her mentor, and her family, and he stayed with her for most of her career. He taught her to play with courage, to trust her backhand, and to fight for every point. He also taught her to believe in herself, when she did not believe in herself.

Rodriguez was not only a tennis coach. He was a person who understood grief, and who understood what it meant to lose a mother. He gave Henin a stability that her family could not give her at that time, and he gave her a home on the tennis court. He travelled with her, he practised with her, and he was there when she won and when she lost. That closeness was a large part of why she succeeded, because she knew that someone believed in her, no matter what happened.

When Henin retired in 2008, Rodriguez stayed in her life, and when she came back in 2010, he was there again. He understood her, and he knew how to help her, because he had known her since she was a child. That kind of relationship is rare in professional sport, where coaches change often, and where players move on. Henin and Rodriguez stayed together, because they were more than coach and player. They were family, and that family helped her to become one of the greatest players of her generation.

The Rivalry With Kim Clijsters and Belgian Pride

Henin and Kim Clijsters were the two great Belgian players of their generation, and their rivalry made Belgian tennis famous around the world. They were the same age, they were from the same small country, and they were both at the top of the game. They played each other many times, in Grand Slam finals and in other big matches, and Belgium watched every one. Henin won more of the big matches, especially at the French Open, but Clijsters was a great rival, and the two women pushed each other to be better.

Their rivalry was also a source of pride for Belgium. A small country with a population of about eleven million people had the two best female tennis players in the world, and that was a remarkable achievement. Belgian fans loved both women, and they followed their matches with passion. When Henin and Clijsters played each other, the whole country stopped to watch, and the winner was celebrated, and the loser was comforted. It was a rivalry that brought a country together, and it made tennis popular in Belgium in a way it had never been before.

Off the court, Henin and Clijsters were not close friends, and they had a complicated relationship, but they respected each other. They knew that they had both worked hard, and that they had both achieved great things, and that respect mattered. When Henin retired, Clijsters spoke of her with admiration, and when Clijsters retired, Henin did the same. They were rivals, but they were also partners in making Belgian tennis great, and their story will be told in Belgium for a long time.

The 2006 Season: Four Grand Slam Finals

In 2006, Henin reached the final of all four Grand Slam tournaments, a feat that few players have ever achieved. She won the French Open, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final, and she lost the Australian Open final to Amelie Mauresmo, the Wimbledon final to Mauresmo, and the US Open final to Maria Sharapova. It was a year of great success and great disappointment, all at once. She was the best player in the world, and she reached every final, but she won only one of them. That is a strange kind of year, and it tells you a lot about her character.

She did not give up after losing three finals. She kept working, and she came back in 2007 and won the French Open and the US Open, and she had the best year of her career. That resilience is a large part of who she was. She could lose a final, and she could come back the next week and win a title, and she could do it again and again. She did not let a loss define her. She let it teach her, and she used it to become stronger. The 2006 season was a lesson in that resilience, and it was a year that made her a better player, even if it did not bring her four titles.

A Small Player in a Big Game

Henin was five feet five inches tall, and she played in an era when women’s tennis was becoming taller and more powerful every year. She was one of the smallest players at the top, and she knew it. She could not win by hitting the ball harder than everyone else, because she did not have that kind of size. She won by moving faster, by thinking clearer, and by hitting her backhand with a precision that bigger players could not match. Her size was a disadvantage in some ways, but it was also a strength, because it forced her to be smarter, and to work harder, and to develop a game that did not depend on power alone.

She also had to deal with people who said she was too small to be the best. She heard it as a junior, she heard it as a professional, and she proved them wrong, again and again. She became world number one, she won seven Grand Slams, and she did it as the smallest player at the top. That is a powerful message for young players who are told they are too small, or too slow, or not good enough. Henin tells them that size is not destiny, and that a small player with a big heart and a great backhand can reach the top of the world.

My Take:

I think Justine Henin is one of the most moving players in tennis, and I say that because her story begins with a loss that is hard to bear. She was twelve years old when her mother died, and that loss shaped everything that followed. She did not play tennis to become famous, or to become rich, or to win trophies. She played tennis because it was the place where she could grieve, and where she could feel close to her mother, and where she could be herself. That is a different kind of reason to play, and it is a reason that makes her success feel deeper than most.

What I admire most is her backhand. I have watched many tennis players, and I have never seen a backhand as beautiful as hers. It was played with one hand, it was hit with power and with spin, and it was graceful in a way that made the whole court seem quiet. When she hit it, time seemed to slow down, and the ball seemed to go exactly where she wanted it to go. That shot was not only a weapon. It was a work of art, and it was the shot that defined her. I think young players should watch it, and learn from it, because it shows that tennis can be beautiful, not only powerful.

I also admire her courage in being small. She was five feet five inches tall, and she played against women who were taller, stronger, and more powerful. She could not win by force, so she won by skill, by speed, and by mind. That takes a kind of bravery that is easy to miss, because it is quiet. She did not complain about her size, and she did not make excuses. She worked harder, she moved faster, and she hit the ball better. She proved that size is not destiny, and that a small player can be the best in the world if she is willing to work for it.

The French Open is the part of her story that I love most. She won it four times, and she played on the clay of Paris with a grace that no one else could match. Clay is a slow surface, and it rewards patience, and Henin was patient. She waited, she moved, she hit her backhand, and she won. I think Paris loved her because she played tennis the way Paris loves tennis, with style, with intelligence, and with heart. Her four titles there are a record that will be remembered, and they are a fitting tribute to a player who understood clay better than almost anyone.

Her retirement in 2008, while she was still number one, is a decision that I respect, even if I did not understand it at first. She was twenty-five, she was the best, and she walked away. That takes courage, because the world expects you to keep going, to keep winning, to keep earning money, and to keep being famous. She said no. She said she was tired, and that she had lost the desire, and that she wanted to live a different life. I think that honesty is rare, and it is brave. She listened to herself, and she made a choice that was right for her, even if it shocked everyone else.

The comeback in 2010 is another part I think about. She came back because she loved tennis, and she reached the final of the Australian Open, and she showed that her talent was still there. But her elbow broke, and she had to stop again. That is sad, because she deserved a longer comeback, and she deserved to win more. But I also think the comeback showed something important. She came back for herself, not for anyone else, and she played with joy, and that joy is what matters. She did not need to win another Grand Slam to prove herself. She had already proved herself, and the comeback was a gift she gave to herself.

I also think about her family, and about the reconciliation that came after her mother’s death. She was divided from her father and her brothers for many years, and that division was painful. After she retired, she began to heal that division, and she became close to her family again. That healing is a large part of her story, and it is a part that many people miss when they only look at the tennis. She did not only win Grand Slams. She also found peace with her family, and she became a mother herself, and she built a new life. That is a victory that does not come with a trophy, but it is a victory all the same.

What I learn from her is that grief can become strength. She lost her mother at twelve, and that loss could have broken her. Instead, it made her stronger, and it gave her a reason to play. She played for her mother, and she played with her mother’s memory in her heart, and that gave her a fire that other players did not have. I think about people who have lost someone they love, and I hope they read her story. It tells them that grief does not have to end your life. It can become a part of your life, and it can make you stronger, if you let it.

I also learn from her that it is okay to stop. She stopped when she was number one, and she stopped again when her elbow broke, and both times she listened to her body and her mind. We live in a world that tells us to keep going, no matter what, and that stopping is a failure. Henin shows that stopping can be a wise and brave choice. She stopped, she rested, she healed, and she came back when she was ready. That is not failure. That is wisdom.

In the end, I think Justine Henin will be remembered as one of the greatest players of her generation, and as a woman who played tennis with her whole heart. She won seven Grand Slams, she won an Olympic gold medal, and she played a backhand that people will talk about for a long time. But I hope she is also remembered as a girl who lost her mother and found a way to live, and as a woman who found peace with her family and with herself. That is a story worth telling, and it is a story that stays with me long after the tennis is over.

I also think about her academy in Belgium, and about the work she does now to help young players. She opened a tennis academy, and she coaches young players, and she passes on what Carlos Rodriguez taught her. She teaches them to hit a one-handed backhand, to move well, and to fight for every point, but she also teaches them to be themselves, and to find joy in the game. That is a gift, and it is a part of her legacy that will last. She is not only a former champion. She is a teacher, and she is helping the next generation to become champions in their own way.

What I learn from her is that a coach can become family, and that family can be found in unexpected places. She lost her mother at twelve, and she found a father figure in her coach, and that relationship helped her to become a great player. I think about people who have lost someone they love, and I hope they read her story. It tells them that family is not only about blood. It is also about the people who believe in you, who support you, and who stay with you when life is hard. Rodriguez was that person for Henin, and she was lucky to have him.

In the end, I think Justine Henin will be remembered as one of the greatest players of her generation, as a woman who played tennis with her whole heart, and as a girl who lost her mother and found a way to live. She won seven Grand Slams, she won an Olympic gold medal, and she played a backhand that people will talk about for a long time. But I hope she is also remembered as a person who found peace with her family and with herself. That is a story worth telling, and it is a story that stays with me.

I also think about the 2006 season, when she reached all four Grand Slam finals and won only one. That year could have broken a player, but it did not break her. She came back in 2007 and had her best year, winning the French Open and the US Open and ten titles in total. That is a lesson in resilience, and it is a lesson I think about often. Losing a final does not mean you are a loser. It means you are close, and if you keep working, you can win the next one. Henin proved that, and her 2007 season was the proof.

What I take from her, finally, is that grief can become a source of strength, if you let it. She lost her mother at twelve, and that loss could have destroyed her. Instead, it gave her a reason to play, and a fire that other players did not have. She played for her mother, and she played with her mother’s memory in her heart, and that gave her a courage that was hard to match. I hope people who have lost someone they love read her story. It tells them that grief does not have to end your life. It can become a part of your life, and it can make you stronger.

I also keep thinking about her size, and about how she turned a disadvantage into a strength. She was five feet five, and she played against women who were taller and stronger, but she won by being smarter, faster, and more precise. She did not complain about her size, and she did not make excuses. She worked harder, she moved faster, and she hit her backhand better. That is a lesson for anyone who feels they are at a disadvantage. You do not need to be the biggest. You need to be the smartest, the hardest working, and the most determined, and Henin was all three.

Another thought that stays with me is her Olympic gold medal in Athens. She won it after being ill earlier in the year, and after missing tournaments, and she played some of the best tennis of her life to win it. That gold medal was not only a tennis win. It was a win for courage, for coming back from illness, and for believing in yourself when others doubt you. I think about that when I face hard times in my own life, and I remember that Henin came back from illness and won gold. That is inspiring, and it is a reminder that setbacks do not have to end your story.

I also keep thinking about her backhand, and about how it is still shown to young players today as an example of how the shot should be played. Coaches show videos of Henin hitting her one-handed backhand, and they tell their students to watch her footwork, her balance, and her follow-through. That is a legacy that goes beyond titles. She left behind a shot that people still study, and that young players still try to copy, because it was so beautiful and so effective. I think that is a wonderful thing for a player to leave behind: not only trophies, but a way of playing that others can learn from, and that makes the game better for everyone who watches it.

Another thought that stays with me is her decision to retire in 2008 while she was still number one, and how brave that was. She was twenty-five, she was the best player in the world, and she walked away because she was tired and because she had lost the desire to compete. That takes a kind of honesty that is rare, because the world expects you to keep going, to keep winning, and to keep earning money. She listened to herself, and she made a choice that was right for her, even if it shocked everyone else. I respect that, because it shows that she knew herself, and that she was not afraid to live her own life, even when it meant giving up the top ranking.

A third thought is about her work now, coaching young players in Belgium and helping them to learn the game. She teaches them to hit a one-handed backhand, to move well, and to fight for every point, but she also teaches them to find joy in tennis, and to be themselves. That is a gift, and it is a part of her legacy that will last. She is not only a former champion. She is a teacher, and her teaching will help the next generation to become champions in their own way, with their own styles, and their own stories.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Grand Slam singles titles did Justine Henin win?

She won seven Grand Slam singles titles: the French Open in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007, the US Open in 2003 and 2007, and the Australian Open in 2004. She also reached the Wimbledon final twice.

What was special about Justine Henin’s backhand?

She played a one-handed backhand that is widely regarded as one of the best in women’s tennis history. It was powerful, graceful, and accurate, and she could hit winners with it from anywhere on the court.

Did Justine Henin win an Olympic gold medal?

Yes, she won the Olympic gold medal in singles at the Athens Games in 2004, beating Amelie Mauresmo of France in the final.

Why did Justine Henin retire in 2008 while she was world number one?

She retired in May 2008 at twenty-five, saying she was tired and had lost the desire to compete. She had won seven Grand Slams and felt she had done enough, and she wanted to live a different life.

Did Justine Henin come back to tennis after retiring?

Yes, she returned in 2010, reached the Australian Open final, and won titles, but she injured her elbow at Wimbledon that year and retired for a second time in January 2011.

How did the death of Justine Henin’s mother affect her?

Her mother died when Justine was twelve, and the loss shaped her life and her tennis. She became close to her coach Carlos Rodriguez, who became a father figure, and she later reconciled with her family after retirement.