Henin out to erase memories

World number one Justine Henin says she is relaxed and confident ahead of the Australian Open starting on Monday.

Belgian wants to put misery of '06 behind her

World number one Justine Henin says she is relaxed and confident ahead of the Australian Open starting on Monday. The Belgian sat out last year's event owing to turmoil in her personal life but went on to dominate the women's game in 2007, winning the French and US Opens plus another eight WTA titles. And she now feels ready to claim her first Austalian title since 2004 after a stomach complaint led her to quitting midway through the 2006 final against Amelie Mauresmo. "I just have a lot of motivation because it's a tournament I like a lot and because two years ago I couldn't be at my best," she said. "I missed it a lot. I love Australia and I love to play here. It's a tournament that brought me a lot of joy in the past. "I'm feeling healthy. I'm feeling happy. I don't have the feeling I have to prove anything to anyone." Henin faces one of the toughest fields assembled in recent years with all the top names fit and confident of performing at their best. Defending champion Serena Williams is in better shape than when shocking the world of tennis with her comeback win 12 months ago while sister Venus is hungry for her first title Down Under. Maria Sharapova and fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova will also be hoping to add to their Grand Slam haul while rising stars Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic will be out to prove themselves at the highest level. Lindsay Davenport, champion in 2000, has won three of her four tournaments since returning to action after giving birth for the first time last year and could be the surprise package. "She looks like she doesn't have any pressure now," added Henin. "She just plays because she loves to play tennis, and we can feel it."