(Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 star Justine Henin is ready to announce her return to the WTA Tour on Tuesday, according to a pair of Belgian newspapers.

Le Soir and La Derniere Heure reported the news on Monday.

In May of last year, Henin shocked the tennis world by announcing her decision to retire, as she became the first-ever reigning world No. 1 to do so.

In August of this year, Henin's long-time Belgian rival Kim Clijsters ended a two-plus-year retirement in order to return to the tour, and in only her third tournament back, the former top-ranked Clijsters captured the U.S. Open title two weeks ago.

When Henin announced her retirement just over 16 months ago, the Liege native said her decision was "final." Adding that she stopped "without regret."

The now-27-year-old Henin quit last year after experiencing many physical ailments on the grueling circuit.

A four-time French Open champion, Henin has captured seven Grand Slam titles among her 41 overall career titles. She first rose to No. 1 on October 20, 2003.

The 5-foot-5 Henin, best known for her beautiful one-handed backhand, tremendous athleticism and unrivalled work ethic, has accumulated more than $19 million in prize money.

Henin, who serves as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, has captured every major tennis event, with the exception of Wimbledon. She even helped tiny Belgium win its first and only Fed Cup title back in 2001 and is a two-time winner of the prestigious year-end Tour Championships.

The 2004 Olympic gold medalist Henin has also been plagued by a troubled personal life, as her mother died in 1995, she did not speak to her father for eight years, and divorced her husband, Pierre-Yves Hardenne, in 2007.





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