7 Dec 2009

Henin wins exhibition event

10:29 am on 7 December 2009

Belgium's former world No.1 Justine Henin began her return to tennis after an 18-month absence with victory over Italy's Flavia Pennetta in an exhibition event in Charleroi.

And the 27-year-old is already dreaming of winning an elusive women's crown at Wimbledon.

She says it's another Justine Henin who will try and go out there and achieve her dream of finally winning Wimbledon.

Having beaten compatriot Kirsten Flipkens in the semi-finals yesterday, Henin defeated Pennetta, currently 12th in the WTA rankings, 6-4 6-4 to win the trophy.

Although not part of the official circuit, the victory will have given Henin the belief she can once more compete at the top level.

The 27-year-old Belgian announced her retirement from top-level tennis in May 2008 after winning seven Grand Slam titles and spending a total of 117 weeks at the top of the women's rankings.

Henin is due to make her official return to the WTA circuit in the Brisbane tournament on January 3rd, 15 days before the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Before heading Down Under, Henin will compete in another exhibition tournament in Cairo next weekend, when she will face Russia's 20th ranked Nadia Petrova.