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Justine Returns
Its a small world after all and now Mickey Mouse has a notable new neighbor showing a sixth sense: Justine Henin.
The former World No. 1, who retired from tennis in May, long-time coach Carlos Rodriguez and Pat Etcheberry, her strength and conditioning coach, reconvened to officially launch the American branch of their 6th Sense Tennis Academy at Mission Inn Resort and Club just outside of Orlando, Florida on Saturday.
Ive had a lot of good memories, good emotions and good moments playing here in the States. So coming from a little country like Belgium to bring our Academy over here to the States is a very good, exciting and interesting challenge, Henin told Tennis Week. We hope to bring something different to tennis here a different philosophy and we want to remind kids that tennis is a game. Before you can become a professional, its got to be a passion and its gonna be a human adventure that we do all together so its going to be really, really exciting to be here.
The 6th Sense Tennis Academy, which was founded in Belgium in November of 2007 by Henin and her coach of 12 years plans to guide and support each player depending on their age, their level and most importantly their own projects.
I think Justine and I achieved something very special and were in the mood to put our experiences together and try to build something for the future, Rodriguez told Tennis Week. I think you see tennis has become a little too much superficial. I think in the society that we live in today they try to do the things as soon as they can and its very difficult to have long-term development, which can be problem for the players. I think if we would like to take the option to have a player like Roger and Justine in the future we have to take the time in the beginning to create a good base and teach the player to be able to play different styles, use different tactics and play on all different surfaces.
Henin began playing tennis at the age of eight and learned the skills that would take her to the top of the world rankings by downsizing. She first learned by playing mini-tennis on a smaller-sized tennis court first a 36-foot court then a 60-foot court until she established a solid foundation to grow from. Recalling the importance playing mini-tennis had on her own development, Henin said the concept is one of the foundations for her Academy at Mission Inn Resort and Club.
The way I learned to play is different from those in the U.S., and the Academy will be a way to share my experience and bring something new to the U.S., Henin said. We want to support tennis players during their young, vital learning years, with special attention to the complete development of their game, especially by using technical and tactical approach, and by using mini-tennis.
The accelerated pace of the pro circuit prompted the seven-time Grand Slam champion to call it quits a few weeks before she was scheduled to launch her quest for an Open Era record fourth consecutive Roland Garros crown. Prior to officially announcing her retirement, Henin gave a glimpse of how she envisioned life after tennis.
Im young in life, but starting to get old on the tour, Henin said. Im growing up and I need different things. Even physically I dont recover as well as I did when I was 20. Thats normal. Now Ive been playing tennis for 20 years and its been my whole life but as a woman, as you get older, you need to think about the future. Id love to go back to study. It would be a good challenge and Ive been thinking about it a lot recently.
That thought process led to quick action: she retired and says shes been spending her time studying to complete her high school education, travelling and working with Rodriguez at the Belgian branch of her academy.
I started to study again and want to finish my high school either this year or the year after. So Ive been studying and I took my first real break, I took a holiday for the first time ever, and that was very important to me, Henin told Tennis Week. I just took some time for myself to relax. Then I started doing some seminars and coaching with Carlos and with the Academy and Foundation so I can be as busy as I was before I retired.
During last months US Open, rumors swirled that Henin had resumed training and was contemplating a future comeback.
Given the fact Henin is only 26 years old (younger than both Williams sisters, who won two of the four majors this season) and produced arguably the best tennis of her career in 2007, posting a 63-4 record and winning 10 of the 14 events she entered, including Roland Garros, the U.S. Open and the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid where she played a brand of attacking tennis not seen since the days of Martina Navratilova, its not inconceivable she could take a year or two off and launch a successful comeback. Lindsay Davenport and Martina Hingis both crafted successful comebacks after apparent retirements and players ranging from Jennifer Capriati to Mary Pierce made winning returns after self-imposed sabbaticals.
Henin shot down suggestions she is considering a competitive return.
No, no competition is over for me. For me, its definitely over, Henin said emphatically. When I took my decision I knew it was forever. So I dont say I will never be back for an exhibition or for another event in the future. But for me (playing) on the Tour? Yeah, its in the past and I wont come back. I made the right decision and I stick to my decision. I will never change my mind about that decision.
Rodriguez, who has served as Henins coach and for a time was a surrogate father figure was less definitive when asked if he could envision Justine someday picking up the racquet and unleashing her trademark one-handed backhand in competition again.
I dont know. I never say never, but I dont think about it at this point: we have a lot of challenges with the academy, Rodriguez said. Like I always say: in my life Ive learned you never know what is going on the in the future. In any case, no she hasnt been training. She has to rest a little bit because shes going to get knee surgery and after that I dont know.
In retrospect, Henin believes her career climaxed 11 months ago when she played a brilliant brand of attacking tennis in subduing Maria Sharapova, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3, to capture the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid.
I think walking off the court that day, I felt something was over for myself, Henin said. I took a few months to realize that my career was over that day. It was one of the longest matches of my career, it was one of the toughest matches of my career and it was one of the best matches of my career. It was the last match of the best season of my career. Everything was perfect for me in the way it ended that day and looking back that was the end.
A relaxed Henin was in good spirits when we caught up with for this interview in which she discusses her new Academy and future plans in tennis.
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In Henin, We Trust
enjoy your day
จากคุณ :
Holden Caulfield   
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2 ต.ค. 51 13:52:35
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