Comeback Queen?

Earlier this week former world no.1 Justine Henin won her first match of her much anticipated comeback. As the Belgian looks to add to her grand slam tally in 2010 Tennislane takes a look at other comebacks on the women's tour.

Kim Clijsters:

Another Belgian following a series of frustrating injuries the widely popular Clijsters retired from tennis to start a family back in May 2007. Upon her retirement the 2005 US Open champion and former world no.1 had enjoyed a hugely successful career. Yet some were left feeling that Clijsters retired with some unfinished business, 1 victory from 5 grand slam finals perhaps one of her most frustrating statistics.

So when Clijsters announced her return to the tour ahead of the 2009 US open it was expected she was gearing up for an assault on the game's elite in 2010. Few could have predicted the fairytale tournament which saw her become the first unranked women in history to win a grand slam title. Clijsters has undoubtedly returned with a bang now we wait to see how her comeback continues in 2010.

Jennifer Capriati:

A teenage sensation becoming the youngest ever semi finalist at Rolland Garros, Capriati seemed destined for the top. But by the end of 1993 it seemed that her time in the game was coming to an end. Despite winning gold at 1992 Olympics in Barcelona Capriati was struggling with the pressure of life on tour. Arrested for shoplifting and later cannabis possession Capriati decided to take a break.

Capriati's return in 1996 was more low key than others and it took time for her to climb her way back up the tennis ladder. Her ranking slowly improved and in May 1999 she won her first WTA tournament since her return in Strasbourg. Perhaps it was this victory that gave her the belief and impetuous that had been lacking as 2001 was to prove to be the most successful year on tour. Winning her first grand slam at the Australian Open, Capriati added the 2001 French Open title, rose to no.1 in the rankings before successfully defending her maiden grandslam in 2002. Although injury may have cut short her time on tour Capriati's comeback must be regarded as one of the most successful in modern times.

Monica Seles:

Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies in tennis history is the stabbing of Monica Seles in 1993 by an obsessed fan of her rival Steffi Graf. At the time Seles was undoubtedly the best player on the planet. World no.1 and already a 8 time grand slam champion the world may have been robbed of her peak years.

However the comeback that Seles made from 1995 onwards was not only brave but very successful. After winning her first tournament back, Seles reached the final of the 1995 US Open losing out narrowly to Graf in three sets. However 1996 was the year which saw her return to the top. Triumph at the Australian Open was her ninth and final grand slam title and although she did not return to the dominance she had enjoyed in the early 90s Seles became a hugely popular player and a ever present top 10 player through to 2003.