PERTH – Former world number one Justine Henin made a winning start in her latest comeback on Saturday but the Belgian could not prevent her team losing to Australia at the mixed-teams Hopman Cup.
In her first match since suffering a serious elbow injury when losing to compatriot Kim Clijsters at Wimbledon last June, the world number 12 was too good for the 129th-ranked Alicia Molik, winning their women’s singles match 6-4, 6-4.
The result gave Belgium a 1-0 lead in the tournament’s opening Group A tie, but local favourite Lleyton Hewitt, in his first match since September, levelled the clash with a 6-4, 6-3 win over the 178th-ranked Ruben Bemelmans.
The Australians then clinched the tie in a match tiebreak in the mixed doubles, winning 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (10/8). Despite the disparity in their rankings, it was an encouraging start to the year for 28-year-old Henin, who returned from retirement in Australia 12 months ago, reaching the Australian Open final but losing to Serena Williams.
Molik is a former world number eight and like Henin is on the comeback trail after premature retirement, and she threatened at times to upset the diminutive Belgian. Henin’s serve was shaky and she was broken five times during the 87-minute match, but her famous backhand was on the mark, including when converting set point to take the first set.
The seven-times Grand Slam winner was pleased to have her first match out of the way, admitting had not been sure what to expect as she started her preparation for the Australian Open later this month in Melbourne. “It’s my first match for a few months and I am coming back from nowhere with the elbow injury,” she said.
“Alicia wasn’t an easy opponent to play first, because she is changing the rhythm a lot and I was bit out of rhythm. “It was good for the first match and I won, which is the most important thing.” Henin admitted there was still pain in her elbow during her service motion.
“I have had to work really hard in the last few weeks to try and serve free of pain,” she said. “I can’t play 100 per cent free of pain but it is getting better. “A few weeks ago I really didn’t know if I would be able to come to Australia. “I am almost there, I just need to get my confidence back and find the rhythm of the matches again.”
Hopman Cup – Australia beat Belgium despite Henin heroics
