Henin slips into retirement while still on top

By Pritha Sarkar

LONDON (Reuters) - In an age when shrieking grunts and muscular power rule the tennis world, Justine Henin proved to be a refreshing throwback to an era when grace, speed and timing dominated the women's game.

While the rise of power-packed players had contributed to the fall of former world number one Martina Hingis, Henin gave hope to smaller, lightly-framed players.

However, with the bombshell announcement on Wednesday that the 25-year-old Belgian was quitting the sport with immediate effect, Henin may turn out to be the last classical women's player to have graced the sport.

"I have been driving my career based on an emotion but I didn't feel that emotion anymore since (last year's season-ending championships in) Madrid," Henin, who won 41 singles and two doubles titles during her career, told a stunned news conference in Brussels.

"I am leaving as the world number one and that is important and it is always better to go out at the top. I leave without any regrets and I know it is the right decision."

Over the past decade, players such as Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, have reveled in capturing the headlines with their brute force on court as well as their colorful and daring fashion statements.

Henin climbed to the top of the sport by eschewing both practices.

While many athletes embraced the cult of celebrity to widen their global appeal and bankability, the world number one adopted a no-nonsense approach throughout her decade-long professional career.