[dohtml]<p align="right"><i>Wednesday 14 May 2008</i></p><p align="center"><b><font size="4">Henin announces shock retirement</font></b></p>[/dohtml]World number one Justine Henin has announced her retirement from tennis with immediate effect.

The 25-year-old insists her decision is final after confirming the shock news in her native Belgium on Wednesday.

The news comes less than two weeks before the start of the French Open, which Henin has won four times, including each of the past three years.

As the reigning women’s singles Olympic champion, Henin will not defend her title in Beijing in August at the 2008 Games.[dohtml]<blockquote><font face="Comic Sans MS">Full story at <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7399963.stm" target="_blank">BBC News</a></font></blockquote>[/dohtml]

Did you know? She lost to Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open in January.

Did you know? Kim Clijsters is another Belgian tennis superstar. ;)

[dohtml]<div style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Comic Sans MS"><p>Did you know? Kim Cl&#307sters was born in Bilzen, Belgium.</p></div>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="3" color="black">
<p>Did you know? Justine Henin was born in Liège, Belgium. :D</p></font>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]<div style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Comic Sans MS"><p>Did you know? Both Venus and Serena Williams are out of the 2008 French Open! :good: In the third round of the women’s singles, they lost to Flavia Penetta of Italy and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia respectively. :clap:</p></div>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="3" color="black">
<p>Did you know? Maria Sharapova is out as well, beaten in the last sixteen by Dinara Safina today. :o</p></font>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]<div style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Comic Sans MS"><p>Did you know? In the men’s singles, Roger Federer progressed into the semifinals today. B)</p></div>[/dohtml]

Did you know? Federer will meet Rafael Nadal in the final in a repeat of last year’s Roland Garros showdown.

[dohtml]<div style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Comic Sans MS"><p>Did you know? The ladies’ singles title has been won by Ana Ivanovi&#263 of Serbia – who beat Sarafina <nobr>6-4</nobr> <nobr>6-3</nobr> in the final today.</p></div>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="3" color="black">
<p>It’s not looking good for Federer against Nadal in the men’s singles final. The &#8470&nbsp;1 seed has already been broken twice in the first set, and the favourite Nadal looks to be storming into a first-set lead. Federer doesn’t seem as good on clay as on grass. :bad:</p></font>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]Nadal took the first set <nobr>6-1</nobr> and is leading <nobr>2-1</nobr> in the second. Federer has only managed to hold serve once in five service games – but he has just broken his opponent in the second set![/dohtml]

[dohtml]<font face="Trebuchet MS" size="3" color="black">
<p>And Nadal crushes Federer <nobr>6-1</nobr> <nobr>6-4</nobr> <nobr>6-0</nobr> to match Björn Borg’s feat of four consective French Open titles.</p>
<p>The world &#8470&nbsp;1 is not going to like this. Not only has he lost in straight sets, he has been completely hammered! Such a thing is virtually unheard of. :wacko:</p></font>[/dohtml]

[dohtml]Federer also lost in straight sets in his Australian Open semifinal against Novak &#272okovi&#263 – but not as heavily as in this one![/dohtml]

[dohtml]<div style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Comic Sans MS"><p>WTF is going on? Federer’s form this year has all gone kaput. :(</p>
<p>I’ve been hoping he might win his sixth straight Wimbledon singles title this year. If the 2008 Australian and French Opens are anything to go by, however, I’m afraid it’s not going to happen. <img src="http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e271/Carduelis_carduelis/Tears.gif" /></p>
<p>Anyway. When Federer retires, Nadal (if he’s still playing) will be my next idol. :wub:</p></div>[/dohtml]

Did you know? Rafael Nadal lost to Britain's Andrew Murray in the semifinals of the 2008 US Open. Roger Federer then beat Murray in straight sets in the final to win his fifth consecutive US Open title.

Did ye know? Andy Murray was born in Glasgow.

Did you know? Justine Henin started playing tennis again earlier this year. She was runner-up to Serena Williams in the 2010 Australian Open and is currently competing in the 2010 French Open.