By Bill Scott Mar 11, 2010, 1:32 GMT
Indian Wells, California - Justine Henin took to the court for the first time since losing the Australian Open final five weeks ago, with the Belgian well-pleased with her form in a first-round defeat of Slovak Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2, 6-2 Wednesday at the Indian Wells Masters.
Henin is unseeded as she returns to the sport after changing her mind last year on retirement. Her run to the January Grand Slam final against Serena Williams came out of the blue in her second event back.
'I need tennis. I need to play,' said the 27-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion, who is determined not to take her comeback too fast.
The Belgian won the event in 2004 and is competing in the California desert for the first time since 2006.
Henin said that she is easing back into competition as she returns to the WTA, planning only as far as this event, the Miami Masters and a Belgian Fed Cup date in April on clay.
She is taking her time in plotting clay-court strategy to mark her return to the surface where she won four Roland Garros titles. Henin says she is wary of over-extending after suffering a hamstring problem that kept her from practice for a week after Australia.
'It's very good to be back. I like this event a lot,' she said.
'Not all is perfect in my game, but I found some good rhythm on the court. I feel good with my game, and I have some great memories of this tournament.'
Henin headlined a quiet opening day at a men's and women's event where all seeds are awarded first-round byes.
With the US Williams sisters missing due to a long-running feud with organizers dating to 2001, and Dinara Safina out with a back injury, Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova heads the list ahead of two members of the rising younger generation, Dane Caroline Wozniacki and Miami champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.
In other Wednesday results, Swiss veteran Patty Schnyder began with a defeat of Italy's Tathiana Garbin 6-1, 6-2, while Russian Vera Dushevina put out Jelena Dokic 6-0, 6-3.
Aussie Alicia Molik earned a win over German Tatjana Malek 6-1, 6- 3. China's Peng Shuai beat Russian Elena Makarova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.
Henin is due on court Friday night at the Hit for Haiti 2 benefit at Tennis Garden, where she is already getting nerves about appearing on the same court with her idol, retired German legend Steffi Graf.
'I'm like a little girl in front of Steffi,' Henin admitted. 'I'll always be a big fan. It's always emotional for me.'
Henin has played benefits with Graf before but always finds it exciting.
'I saw her once on a plane, but I was too shy to say hello to her. I met her for the first time in Orlando in 2004 when we did something for a sponsor,' Henin said. 'My legs were shaking, and that will never change. I feel we have a lot in common, and she gave me a lot (in tennis).'
The sold-out doubles fundraiser features Graf, Martina Navratilova, Henin and Lindsay Davenport. The men's mix is to include Roger Federer and Pete Sampras playing Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi.
Your Talkback on this Story