The former world No 1 will play in a WTA event for the first time since the break-up of her marriage with Pierre-Yves Hardenne.
PARIS: Former world number one Justine Henin will open her 2007 campaign at the Paris WTA Tour event here next week in what will also be her first appearance since the break-up of her marriage.
Henin skipped the Australian Open and admitted she had split from her husband of more than four years Pierre-Yves Hardenne.
“On the tennis side of things, I have begun training again. I also have slightly altered my schedule. I will play in Paris,” she told her personal website after announcing the split form her husband. “It’s not far from my home, and it’s always pleasant for me to be in Paris. This will be my first tournament for the season. I hope to find my form, and as usual will give all of myself.”
The 24-year-old Belgian will head up a strong field that includes 10 of the world’s top 14 players after she and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova made late entries to the field.
Henin rose to number one in the world at the end of last season, her first full campaign after two years of injury and illness, before losing that spot to Australian Open finalist Maria Sharapova.
She was undoubtedly the star of 2006, reaching the final at 10 of the 13 tournaments she competed in and winning six. She reached all four Grand Slam finals, taking the title at Roland Garros, and also claimed the end of year WTA Championship crown.
Henin also helped Belgium reach the Fed Cup final where she could not prevent Italy winning 3-2 despite winning both her singles rubbers.
But she pulled out of both the Sydney International and Melbourne last month for what was then unconfirmed personal reasons.
It will not be easy for Henin here with world number three Amelie Mauresmo, who beat the Belgian in both the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals in 2006, in the draw. Also in the draw is eighth seed Dinara Safina of Russia, who defeated Mauresmo in the 2005 final.
One of the biggest attractions, though, will be teenage Czech sensation Nicole Vaidisova who reached the Melbourne semis last month. A part-time model known for her long blond hair and pin-up legs as well as her improving play, the six feet tall Vaidisova is at a career-high nine in the world rankings and has fond memories of Paris having reached the Roland Garos semis last year.
Home fans will be keen to see 19-year-old Aravane Rezai, the daughter of Iranian immigrants who is coached by her former car mechanic father Arsalan and is the reigning Muslim Women Olympic Games champion. There will be a strong Russian contingent with six of the top 10 ranked players in the field coming from the European powerhouse.
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