Henin-Hardenne to defend French title

World number one Justine Henin-Hardenne has confirmed she will defend her French Open title after being out of action for over a month because of glandular fever.

The young Belgian, who won three of the last four Grand Slams, has just recovered from the illness which has sidelined her since April 10 when she lost to Amelie Mauresmo at a claycourt event at Amelia Island.

But she is determined to fight to keep her French crown over the next two weeks.

“I made my decision on Monday, I feel ready,” she said at a press conference today.

“I am not at 100% of my form, this is understandable considering the illness I have just had but I want to enjoy myself.”

Henin-Hardenne was forced to rest for a month and resumed training on May 3.

“There were still traces of the virus in my body just a few days ago but now I believe it’s definitely gone,” she added.

“The problems are behind me.”

Her coach Carlos Rodriguez, meanwhile, admits the Belgian is taking a risk.

“She is in the unknown,” he added. “She has only played four matches on clay this season.

“Now I don’t know how she will react, I want to remain positive and I am sure she will be focused right from the start.

“Concentration will be very important, we have worked a lot on that aspect of the game.

“She made the decision to go, she has her fate in her own hands. She also knows she can win the tournament again as well as being defeated in the first round.”

Henin-Hardenne refuses to overstate her recent illness.

“There is no need to over-dramatise things,” she added.

“I bowed out in the first round in 2002 and I won last year – I know both sides of the coin.

“The world kept going round after that. At some point this year I had little chance of going to Roland Garros, now I am so I am going to make the most of it.

“The huge fatigue and the virus were like an alert for me, I took advantage of the situation to go back home and rest. And it did me a lot of good.”