World number one Justine Henin is set to announce her retirement from tennis, according to Belgian media reports.

Newspapers claim the 25-year-old, who has withdrawn from this week's Italian Open citing fatigue, will make the announcement at 1300 BST on Wednesday.

The Belgian Tennis Federation confirmed that Henin would hold a news conference to discuss her career and future.

Henin last week wrote on her website that she had been training without any Injury forces out Roddick in Rome ...
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Winner of seven grand slam singles titles including the last three French Opens, Henin suffered a shock defeat by Russia's Dinara Safina in the third round of the German Open last Thursday.

The Belgian, playing only her second match following a month off with a knee injury, went down 5-7 6-3 6-1.

Perhaps more significantly, the women's tour launched a multi-million dollar "Superhero" marketing campaign in Rome on Tuesday featuring all the top players - except Henin.

"It cost a fortune and surely the sponsors would want the world number one involved if she was still intending to play," said BBC Radio Five Live tennis correspondent Jonathan Overend.

More soon.

(BBC)

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