Justine Henin's Second Retirement Uncovered: What's the Deal?

Justine Henin officially retired for the second time after her loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Australian Open after incurring an elbow injury at Wimbledon that kept her out for the rest of the 2010 season.

She had announced her retirement stating her injury as the main reason for leaving, and on Valentine's Day, she further clarified during a press conference that, "For me, it's like a sentence. Now I have to mourn the end of my career."

She explained that after going to several different doctors, she was left with no hope and may have to undergo some extensive surgery to fix the ligament, tendon and nerve damage . She used interesting words, saying that this retirement was more of a "sentence" than a "decision," as if her choice to play on was taken from her, unlike her first retirement.

Henin said, "I’m going to miss all the great feelings you have as a professional tennis player. I hope I’ll pick the racquet up again one day, but more than anything I want to live a normal life.”

It seems a shame that she was not able to leave on the same high note as she did in 2008 and no one can forget her run at the 2010 Australian Open, her first slam back, in which she made it all the way to the finals.

After her first retirement, when she was at the top of her career in 2008 with some slam titles and the rankings' top spot, there was speculation that she was involved in some type of doping scandal. Once again the rumors emerged but Henin put the rumors to rest and denied ever cheating in any form.

Henin responded, "That hurts me, and all the people who have been part of my entourage. I can’t accept that, nor will I forget or forgive. I have never cheated."

Get it all here: www.TennisNow.com