After Kim Clijsters' [Images] outstanding return from injury to win back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami [Images], Justine Henin-Hardenne's emotional win at the Family Circle Cup on Sunday showed she too is ready to regain her place at the top.

Just 12 months ago the pair were ranked first and second in the world, having met in the finals of three of the previous four grand slam events, with Henin-Hardenne coming out on top in all three.

Wrist injuries then kept Clijsters off the tour for most of 2004 and Henin-Hardenne was struck down by a virus followed by a knee problem as she slid down the rankings to 43rd.

Her win over Elena Dementieva in Charleston on Sunday lifted the former world number one back up to 22nd and, more importantly, showed the rest of tennis she means business again.

"We are back, both of us. That's very good for tennis," Henin-Hardenne said after clinching her first title since the Olympic Games in August.

"Some people said that when we were out of the tour, we were finished, we were burned, we were over. I think that we proved in the last few weeks that is not true at all.

"I'm very happy and proud about that, and Kim should be too."

STRONG RESPECT

It is no secret that Henin-Hardenne and Clijsters are not close friends off the court but the two share a strong respect for each other.

"We were almost born in the same place. We almost have the same age. We have a lot of things in common," Henin-Hardenne said.

"But we have very different kinds of personality, so I think that's very good."

The 22-year-old knows the tough road to recovery has altered her game but wants to look forward and not back.

"I'm never going to be the same," she said.

"A lot of things have changed. Maybe one day I'll be a better player. Maybe not, I don't know, but I know that everything that happened is from the past and I need to be focused on my game right now."

The emergence of 17-year-old French prodigy Tatiana Golovin [Images], a semi-finalist in Charleston, and Czech quarter-finalist Nicole Vaidisova, who only turns 16 on Saturday, bodes well for the women's game.

With the two Belgians also back in the mix this year's French Open could be one of the most open in recent memory, with no one a big favourite on the red dirt of Roland Garros.

"It's going to be very open," Henin-Hardenne said.

"All the grand slams are very open this year. You don't have a player who dominated the tour in the last few months.

"Clay courts are very different. You have to fight a lot. That's probably the surface where you have to play your best tennis because physically it's very hard, and mentally, too.

"So probably the strongest one in her head will win the French Open."

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