14 Q1.08 <strong>Qatar</strong>Sport “I had experienced probably the most difficult time in my career at the start of 2007 and it was difficult to find my rhythm again, but Doha was an important victory for me in getting my confidence back and believing I could be No.1 in the world again”
o o o o o o o o o stars in qatar World No.1 Justine Henin returns to <strong>Qatar</strong> in February to defend her <strong>Qatar</strong> Total Open title. Chances are that the Belgian superstar will also be back in November for the end-of-season Sony Ericsson Championships which will offer the biggest winner’s cheque in women’s tennis . <strong>JUSTINE</strong> GOES FOR TWO IN A ROW Women’s tennis World No.1 Justine Henin, who is due to defend her Sony Ericsson WTA Tour <strong>Qatar</strong> Total Open title in Doha in February, credits her 2007 victory at the Khalifa International Tennis Centre, with giving her the confidence to record her best-ever year as a professional. Having first reached the coveted top spot back in 2003, the 25-year-old Belgian returned to No.1 position in 2006 and her 6-4 / 6-2 victory against Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Doha final of 2007 clearly demonstrated that she wasn’t going to relinquish her position without a fight. “As a lot of people were aware, I had experienced probably the most difficult time in my career at the start of 2007 and it was difficult to find my rhythm again, but Doha was an important victory for me in getting my confidence back and believing I could be No.1 in the world again,” she told <strong>Qatar</strong> Sport. And it wasn’t only her victory which left her feeling good about her experience in <strong>Qatar</strong>. First Class “I played the tournament before in 2004 and was very impressed with how the city had grown and developed in the three years I had been away. I can only speak of my experience at the tournament in relation to my impression of the country and I can definitely say it was first class and the <strong>Qatar</strong>is can be very proud of the good job they are doing,” she said. Her 2007 Doha victory complemented wins in Warsaw, Dubai, the French Open at Roland Garros, Brighton, Toronto, the US Open, Stuttgart, Zurich and the seasonending Madrid Tour Championships. Henin, who is coached by Carlos Rodriguez, was playing tennis before she was five and has become a role model for female athletes throughout the world as a result of her skill, grace and determination on court and her approach to life off court. In many respects she’s the perfect example of a modern Sony Ericsson WTA Tour player; both a phenomenal athlete and a thoroughly modern woman, actively involved in a range of interests beyond the sport itself. “My main memory of last year’s event was getting back on the plane to Europe with a feeling of satisfaction following my victory in Doha and that my game was back to the level I asked of myself”, she said. But what about the year ahead which, injury permitting, is likely to see Justine back in Doha from November 3 to take part in the Sony Ericsson Championships, following their switch from Madrid? Staying Fit “Well, 2008 will be an interesting year,” she reflects. “The <strong>Qatar</strong> Total Open will now be a Tier I event, which is one of the most important tournaments on our Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. I always enjoy playing outside in <strong>Qatar</strong> in February and I hope to continue my unbeaten run in Doha. Also, we will have our season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships - <strong>Qatar</strong> 2008, so Doha will play a very important role in the development of women’s tennis. “Looking at the season as a whole, the challenge for me will be to top 2007, which was the most successful year of my career so far. It was also my goal to finish a season without an injury for the first time and I am very happy to say I accomplished that. So really, for me in 2008, the key will be to continue my level of tennis and maintain my fitness. Thanks to my entourage, hopefully it will continue. Away from tennis, 2007 was probably one of the most satisfying in my life and I can say I am very proud of the decisions I made. I look forward to enjoying more time with my friends and family and appreciating the good things life has to offer.” Sony Ericsson Championship The presence of Justine Henin and many of the world’s leading women’s tennis players at the <strong>Qatar</strong> Total Open has helped build the bond between <strong>Qatar</strong> and its Tennis federation and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. In July last year a $42 million, three-year agreement was signed to take the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships to Doha, offering record prize money of $4.45 million, equal to that of the ATP’s season-ending Championships, the Tennis Masters Cup. The prestige of the Sony Ericsson Championships has Left: World No.1 Justine Henin is set on another brilliant year in 2008 Q1.08 <strong>Qatar</strong>Sport 15
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