"Nathalie Dechy was my only true friend on the tour," says Henin

© AFP

Adrien Guyot

le 23/09/2025 à 16h17

1 min to read

Dechy Garcia Henin

Justine Henin opens up about the pressure and loneliness she experienced on the tour during her career. A great tennis champion, she won seven Grand Slam titles in her career and also reached world number one.

The Belgian, who retired in 2011, is now a consultant for French television and regularly shares her analysis on France Télévisions and especially on Eurosport.

Guest on the Tennis Insider Club podcast hosted by the newly retired Caroline Garcia, Henin discussed the pressure of being a tennis player, but above all the loneliness one can feel when on the tour.

"I was where I wanted to be, it was my dream to become a professional. But when I arrived, I of course felt a lot of pressure. It was an incredible challenge to take on. For me, blocking out everything else was positive.

I focused on what really mattered. Nathalie Dechy was my only true friend on the tour. I wasn't looking for many friends, but I needed one. Otherwise, you can really feel very alone.

As I said the other day, life is very, very beautiful after tennis. Even though we remain in the environment, I can use my experience in many ways without being in the spotlight.

I really appreciate being at home now, living with simple things. A good family life is all it takes to be happy and satisfied," assured Henin.