Justine Henin-Hardenne sent out a warning
to her Wimbledon title rivals by claiming
her second French Open crown just three
months after returning to the sport.
The Belgian has had to learn to cope
with a draining viral condition that
virtually wiped out her 2004 season.
A right knee injury before the Australian
Open in January made matters worse and
Henin-Hardenne withdrew from the tour
until March.
Her comeback in Miami was satisfactory
- she was knocked out in the quarter-finals
by Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova.
But it was in the clay-court season
that Henin-Hardenne found her rhythm,
finishing it undefeated in 24 matches
and with a fifth Grand Slam title under
her belt.
The 23-year-old's trademark athleticism
on court and powerful groundstrokes
seemed undimmed by her time away from
the circuit.
And her energy levels should be soaring
before Wimbledon as she opted out of
the traditional warm-up tournaments,
preferring to rest.
The Belgian admits her condition has
made her more determined on court and
more careful about her health off it.
Henin-Hardenne has an excellent record
at Wimbledon, reaching the last four
in 2002 and 2003 and finishing as runner-up
to Venus Williams in 2001.
If she arrives in peak shape at the
All England Club she will be strongly
fancied to go one better.
