Justine Henin – Keynote Speaker

Justine Henin was one of the world’s top tennis players from 2003 to 2008.

Her impressive track record includes 43 victories on the WTA circuit including 7 Grand Slams (4 Roland Garros, 2 US Open, 1 Australian Open), 2 Masters, 1 Olympic gold medal and 1 Fed Cup.

Justine started her career in 1996 when she won the World Junior Championships for under 14, the Orange Bowl and the European Junior Championships for under 14.
The following year, she won her first trophy at the Roland Garros Junior Championships to make it into the WTA rankings.

Justine Henin’s career is a series of victories. In 2000, she reached the 8th finals of the US Open. The following year, she won the Fed Cup alongside the Belgian team, as well as two tournaments in Australia. She also entered for the first time the women’s semi-finals at Roland Garros and the final at Wimbledon. Justine Henin made it into the world’s top 10.
In 2002, Justine won against Serena Williams in Berlin for the first time.

On June 7, 2003, Henin makes history. She became the first Belgian player to win a Grand Slam tournament by beating the other famous Belgium tennis player Kim Clijsters at Roland Garros. John McEnroe qualified Justine Henin’s game as “the best setback in the world”.

She won a Grand Slam tournament for the second time that same year: the US Open.
With these two major achievements, Henin took over the top spot in the WTA rankings. Nothing can stop her success. In 2004, she won the Australian Open, the Dubai and the Indian Wells tournaments.

For Justine Henin, 2004 will be a milestone: she won a gold medal in the women’s singles at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

In 2005, Justine won her second title at Roland Garros.

In 2006, Justine entered the finals of the 4 Grand Slam tournaments held this same year.
She won the Sydney tournament but drops out in the final of the Australian Open due to stomach pains. But she is back in Paris few months later to reunite with her audience and she wins a third title at Roland Garros.

2007 will be the best year for the Belgian player… 10 tournaments won out of 14 contests including 2 Grand Slam, 63 wins including the last 25 consecutives.
Justine also received the title of “Belgium Athlete of the Year” for the 4th time (after 2003, 2004 and 2006). As well as the title of “World Athlete of the Year” for the first time.

On May 14, 2008, Justine feels tired and she decides to announce her retirement while she
is still the world’s No.1 player. After 16 months away, she announces her comeback and ranks 12 in the world.
However, in January 2011, following a serious elbow injury, the Belgian player puts a definitive end to his career.

Now retired, Justine Henin is today still very active and combines several activities: entrepreneur, TV consultant, speaker and mother of two young children.

She is very involved with kids in her tennis club “Justine Henin Club” and within her academy where she shares her knowledge and experience amongst young people.
Justine Henin also founded “Justine For Kids”, an association whose mission is to manage and finance a respite care home to support sick children and their families.