BRUSSELS, Belgium - Former No. 1 player Justine Henin-Hardenne ended her Monday season because of continued problems with an energy-sapping virus. The blood disorder weakened her since April although she won the singles gold medal at the Olympics.
"The last strength I had was in Athens," she said. "Afterward it was tough to recover."
The 22-year-old Belgian withdrew from last week's tournament in Filderstadt, Germany. She was to play in next week's event in Zurich, Switzerland, before November's season-ending WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles.
"The will is still there," she said, adding she hopes a good start next season will return her to the top ranking.
She reached No. 1 in October 2003 but has fallen to No. 3 behind Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport. She could fall from the top five by the end of the season.
"I hope I will get my revenge as of the start of next season," she told VTM television network.
She was first forced to rest after being diagnosed with the blood disorder in April. She came back in June to try to defend her French Open title but lost in the second round and forced off the circuit again.
After her Olympic victory, she lost in the fourth round at the U.S. Open and has not played since. She said she had fallen ill again leading to the Grand Slam tournament in New York and has been dogged by fatigue since.
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