http://www.eurosport.com/tennis/wta-dubai/2006/sport_sto836315.shtml Henin-Hardenne confirms Dubai trip Eurosport - 18/02/2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne confirmed on Saturday that she will play at next week's million-dollar Dubai Duty Free Open. It will be the Belgian's first tournament since injury forced her to retire during last month's Australian Open final. There was mixed news for the organisers, however, as the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, confirmed their withdrawal along with Swiss world number nine Patty Schnyder. All three players are injured. The tournament, which starts on Monday, has nevertheless been boosted by the late inclusions of Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo and former world number one Martina Hingis. Henin-Hardenne, the world number five, was forced to retire with a stomach injury against France's Mauresmo in the second set of the final in Melbourne. "I am not 100 percent fit just yet, with a shoulder injury still lingering, but I'll have four to five days training and time to acclimatise with the mild temperatures," the Belgian said on her website. Seeded three, Henin-Hardenne, won the Dubai tournament in 2003 and 2004 and was handed a bye in the first round during Saturday's draw. Prior to her Melbourne disappointment, the Belgian started the year with a win in Sydney. The other leading three players in action - top seed Mauresmo, defending champion Lindsay Davenport and Russia's Maria Sharapova - were also given byes to the second round. Wild card Hingis was not given that luxury and must continue her return after retirement against India's Sania Mirza who is ranked ten places above the 'Swiss Miss'. Another interesting tie will be fifth seed Nadia Petrova, knocked out by Mauresmo in the semi-finals of the Diamond Games in Antwerp on Saturday, against fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko. --

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