bleungberg.com

Bleungberg is saddened by the premature retirement of his favourite tennis player, Justine Henin, this week. Together with Kim Clijsters, Henin brought joy to millions of Belgians and as both are now retired, this marks the end of a golden era for Belgian tennis. It is highly unlikely that we will have two world-class sportsmen competing in the same discipline from this tiny country ever again.

Of the pair, Henin was undoubtedly the greater of the two: the sublime single-handed backhand, the dogged determination and sheer athleticism mixed with a fragile mind, a crippling body which has been beset by all kinds of illnesses throughout the decade made her achievements of reaching the world number one ranking, seven grand-slam titles and an Olympic Gold in Athens when she defeated Amelie Mauresmo in 2004 all the more remarkable.

Incidentally, it was during her defeat to Mauresmo through retirement during the final of the Aussie Open in 2006 that Bleungberg began to see Henin in a new light. Unlike the gregarious and friendly Clijsters, it was not easy to latch onto Henin during much of her career; she seemed aloof, some say ungracious and had bad sportsmanship.

But behind that steely mask laid a troubled mind, soul and body. Illness forced her into retirement that Saturday aftenoon on Melbourne, and her life began to unravel more explicitly thereafter - a broken marriage, rift with her birth family and subsequent reconciliations through yet another family tragedy, continuous health problems made us realise just what a tumultuous life this diminutive Belgian had led until then - and she was only 22 . What really sealed it for us was her gallant defeat in the Wimbledon final to the Mauresmo five months later. In a gripping final, she sprinted out of the blocks like a hare, only to be caught and reeled back in by Mauresmo in a superb singles match which lasted for nearly three hours. She looked sad and angry, and only congratulated her opponent at the net half-heartedly at the end. But by then, we’d understood more, and appreciated just what a remarkable human-being she is. Eventhough she lost in the US Open final six weeks later to Maria Sharapova, she had become the first woman in almost two decades to reach all four slams’ finals in the same calender year, with Roland Garros her only title in 2006.

By quitting at the young age of 25, Henin has become the first woman to bow out of the sport ranked number 1. To go out at the height of one’s power signals one’s determination and qualities. And there is no tennis player more special and remarkable than Henin right now. She will be much, much missed by all who love tennis.