sports champions players: justine henin tennis player justine henin hardene

Nationality: Belgian
Current residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco
Date of birth: 1-6-1982
Place of birth: Liège, Belgium
Size: 1.66 m
Weight: 57 kg
Status: Pro (January 1, 1999 - May 14, 2008)
Preference: right, one-handed backhand
Coach: Carlos Rodriguez
Mystery of life wanted that Justine was born during Roland Garros (French Open) on June 1st 1982, day of the quarter finals of that edition, finally won by Martina Navratilova. This doesn't explain Justine's career so far though. Justine got the love for sport trough her sportive environment. At the age of 2, a hazard made her move to Rochefort at only a few meters from the local tennis club where she played tennis for the first time.

At the age of 5, she spends all her summer vacation on courts, going home from time to time for dinner. By the time she is 6 and still progressing very fast, she leaves Tennis Club Rochefort to join Tennis Club Ciney.

This is her first contact with trainings and competitions. After working with several trainers, Justine joins the French tennis federation where Jean-Pierre Collot and Luc Bodart help her to improve her techniques. Making huge progressions Justine leaves the French federation for a while to start a private program at Tennis Club Géronsart with Gabriel Gonzalez.

Being a brilliant student, very good football- and tennis player, Justine definitely chooses for tennis and makes an end at football. After Gabriel Gonzalez and before making her comeback at the federation, Justine works with Michel Mouillard for 2 years. It is indeed around 14 -or more or less a year after her mother died in 1995- that Justine meets Carlos Rodriguez who brought her where she is today. With most of her training taking place in Mons, Justine decided to continue her secondary school in that same town.

Since then everything has gone fast .As in 1997, she wins the Orange Bowl -junior's championship. Especially when she wins the junior's of Roland Garros it’s proven: after a few months, Justine has to face reality and stops her studies to become full-time professional in 1999, which was also the year of her first participation at the Fed Cup with the Belgian national team. Her first steps in the women circuit is a wonderful success as she wins the final of the tournament of Antwerp against Sarah Pitkowski. The same year she meets Pierre-Yves Hardenne who became three years after in November 2002 her husband.

After the year 2000 being a bit more difficult due to injuries, problems and illnesses which are already forgotten, good results are following each other.