Henin to face Clijsters in comeback match

Justine Henin will make her return from a six-month spell injured on the sidelines in an exhibition match against her Belgian compatriot Kim Clijsters this evening, her coach has revealed.

The former world number one damaged ligaments in her right elbow at Wimbledon in June but is now “ready to play a tournament”, according to her trainer Carlos Rodriguez.

The match against Clijsters will take place at a gala event in the Belgian city of Anvers.

Henin, currently 12th in the WTA rankings, resumed training at the beginning of October with the sole aim of being fit for the start of the 2011 season.

She will begin the 2011 campaign at the Hopman Cup mixed international team tournament in Perth, Australia in January, when she is likely to team up with her countryman Ruben Bemelmans.

Henin, 28, made her return to competitive tennis last January after 18 months in retirement.

Her ‘second career’ began well, as she reached the Australian Open final and won tournaments at Stuttgart and Rosmalen, before falling to Clijsters in the last 16 at Wimbledon.

Interviewed by Belgian daily La Derniere Heure Sports yesterday, Rodriguez said that Henin “definitely has three great years at the highest level ahead of her”.