Joey O'ConnorDid Justine Henin Retire Just In Time?
June 21st 2008 14:33
May 208, and Justine Henin announced her retirement from tennis.
This seemed a shock on the surface, but a closer look may reveal it was good timing...
She was World Ranked Number 1 player at the time, with the French Open just around the corner, a tournament she had won 4 times.
So, why would she retire - surely it's too early?
Well, she said she had simply had enough, and after 20 years simply couldn't muster the drive needed to be a top of the world tennis player.
Yes, she was well rewarded from a 20 year career with over $19 million in prize money, but to keep at that level means a punishing travel schedule, and more punishment from the training required.
Henin said she was looking forward to living a little, to traveling the world and seeing more than airports, hotels and stadiums.
She was looking forward to spending time with her family, and enjoying going out for a run because she wanted to rather than because she had to.
She had never been skiing, and was planning to 'maybe spend the whole winter trying it'.
It's a great career record to look back on - 7 Grand Slam titles, although Wimbledon eluded her.
That must hurt, because despite 2 appearances in the final she never managed to win what is the ultimate prize in tennis.
Oh yes, don't forget to add Olympic Gold to the tally.
Lets face it, the Olympics means nothing in the big scheme of tennis, but nevertheless Henin was one of Belgium's best medal hopes for Beijing, and the small country where she is an icon is still coming to terms with her retirement.
It is possible, that at just 25, a couple of years away from tournament play may re-ignite the drive within her, but it's very rare for retiring sports stars to come back and achieve the heights they managed before.
Overall, I think it could be said that yes, Justine did retire just in time!
I love the fact that I make money writing about sport! You can find out my *exact* technique at my site by clicking here!
This seemed a shock on the surface, but a closer look may reveal it was good timing...
She was World Ranked Number 1 player at the time, with the French Open just around the corner, a tournament she had won 4 times.
So, why would she retire - surely it's too early?
Well, she said she had simply had enough, and after 20 years simply couldn't muster the drive needed to be a top of the world tennis player.
Yes, she was well rewarded from a 20 year career with over $19 million in prize money, but to keep at that level means a punishing travel schedule, and more punishment from the training required.
Henin said she was looking forward to living a little, to traveling the world and seeing more than airports, hotels and stadiums.
She was looking forward to spending time with her family, and enjoying going out for a run because she wanted to rather than because she had to.
She had never been skiing, and was planning to 'maybe spend the whole winter trying it'.
It's a great career record to look back on - 7 Grand Slam titles, although Wimbledon eluded her.
That must hurt, because despite 2 appearances in the final she never managed to win what is the ultimate prize in tennis.
Oh yes, don't forget to add Olympic Gold to the tally.
Lets face it, the Olympics means nothing in the big scheme of tennis, but nevertheless Henin was one of Belgium's best medal hopes for Beijing, and the small country where she is an icon is still coming to terms with her retirement.
It is possible, that at just 25, a couple of years away from tournament play may re-ignite the drive within her, but it's very rare for retiring sports stars to come back and achieve the heights they managed before.
Overall, I think it could be said that yes, Justine did retire just in time!
I love the fact that I make money writing about sport! You can find out my *exact* technique at my site by clicking here!
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