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Federer pays tribute to Henin
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SportsDesk on 15 May, 2008 01:31:23
 
Hamburg: World no. 1 Roger Federer admitted the tennis community were shocked to
hear on Wednesday top-ranked female Justine Henin had announced her retirement
with immediate effect.
Federer, who is in the third round of the Hamburg Masters Series here, said he
was stunned to hear Henin, who has won seven Grand Slam titles and nearly 20
million dollars in prize-money, had announced her retirement in Belgium.
Henin, 25, withdrew from this week’s WTA tournament in Rome, but Federer says
her announcement has stunned the tennis world, especially as she has won at
Roland Garros, which starts in less than a fortnight, for the last three years.
"I have only just heard, but it is a shock for the tennis world, especially as
she is number one at the moment," said 26-year-old Federer.
"I am sure she has her reasons, but it’s particularly surprising as it’s
only a few weeks before Roland Garros, where she has had so much success, and
Wimbledon is later this summer, which she has never won."
"It’s, of course, a shame she is out of the game." Having won 41 titles in
total on the WTA tour, including 493 wins and just 107 defeats since she made
her debut in 1999, Henin is one of the game’s great players added Federer.
"She is a special player, she can play on any surface, which is unusual in the
women’s game," he said.
"And it’s remarkable that she has won so many tournaments because she is
small and all the newcomers in the womens game are tall, which gives them an
advantage. I couldn’t imagine deciding out of the blue to retire, especially
if I was no. 1. She has had a couple of injuries, it might be all in all too
much for her and she might not want to be on the tour anymore." (AFP)