World number one Justine Henin has announced her retirement from tennis with immediate effect.
Belgian star shocks tennis world
Tennis world pays tribute
World number one Justine Henin has announced her retirement from tennis with immediate effect.
The shock news comes less than two weeks before Henin was due to begin the defence of her French Open title.
The 25-year-old has won at Roland Garros four times, including each of the last three years and she has seven Grand Slam titles to her name.
"It's the end of a wonderful adventure but it's something I have been thinking about for a long time," she told a press conference in Belgium.
"At the end of the match in Berlin (last week), all of a sudden was there as something evident. I decided to stop fooling myself and accept it.
Right decision
"I am leaving as the world number one and that is important and it is always better to go out at the top. I leave without any regrets and I know it is the right decision.
"Winning Wimbledon would not have made me any happier. I didn't feel I was capable of winning there.
"I stopped before Roland Garros because I asked myself if I could produce a better Roland Garros than last year and I realised I couldn't.
"I wanted to play in the Olympics for my country and would have been proud to do so despite the current problems. Some people never realise their dream of an Olympic medal and I have realised that goal.
"But I couldn't go to Beijing and do my country proud. It's time for a change."
Henin has struggled with fatigue and fitness this year and she pulled out of the Italian Open this week after losing to Dinara Safina in the third round in Berlin.
She began the year by winning in Sydney, before losing to Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
Henin then won her home event in Antwerp, but has since suffered early exits to Serena Williams, Francesca Schiavone and Safina.
