Stricken by illness and injury, Justine Henin-Hardenne ended last year in the depths of despair, wondering if she would ever again experience the giddy heights of tennis.

A fractured knee in November drew a depressing line under a year that had begun with victory at the Australian Open [Images] and included an unlikely gold medal at the Athens Olympics [Images], but was mostly spent dealing with an energy-sapping viral infection.

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When she returned to the circuit in April in Miami [Images] her ranking was down in the 40s, Serena Williams [Images] had taken her Australian Open crown and a legion of hungry Russians seemed set to take the game by storm.

Since her defeat to Maria Sharapova [Images] in the quarter-finals of Miami, however, the petite Belgian former world number has looked unstoppable, and unbeatable.

At Roland Garros earlier this month she battled past US Open [Images] champion Svetlana Kuznetsova [Images] after saving two match points in the fourth round, obliterated Wimbledon [Images] champion Sharapova in the quarter-finals and then humiliated home favourite Mary Pierce to win the title for the second time.

LAST HURDLE

Now the steely 23-year-old is setting her sights on completing her set of all four Grand Slam titles by winning Wimbledon, having fallen at the last hurdle four years ago against Venus Williams [Images].

She is leaving nothing to chance this time.

After her French triumph she withdrew from the traditional warm-up event in Eastbourne, on England's [Images] south coast, preferring to rest so that she arrives at the All England Club firing on all cylinders.

"You have to be realistic," said Henin-Hardenne, explaining why she had opted not to play any competitive matches on grass before the championships begin next Monday. "What I did two years ago, going to play two weeks after winning the French Open was crazy.

"In spite of the euphoria, I have to be realistic. Maybe if I prepare for Wimbledon not as well as that time it will work out better for me."

The fact that Henin-Hardenne has won 24 consecutive matches on clay, the most gruelling surface in the sport, is proof in itself that there is nothing wrong with her stamina.

ENVIED BACKHAND

While she is still a self-confessed workaholic on the practice court with coach Carlos Rodriguez, the difference now is that she knows when to stop.

"I will not play three weeks in a row now," she said. "It's been a lot of matches in the last few weeks. I won't do the same mistakes as in the past. I want to be ready for Wimbledon."

On the evidence of Paris, a fresh Henin-Hardenne will take some stopping.

With a beefed-up serve and a backhand that is the envy of everybody in the sport, Roger Federer [Images] included, she will start at the All England Club as one of the prime contenders to knock Sharapova off her throne.

"I think I can fight a lot on the court and I'm feeling better and better each week," said Henin-Hardenne, who has bounced back up to world number seven.

"I didn't know if I was going to be able to be at my best level any more but I think I proved it many times in the last few weeks that I'm back."

At 1.67 metres tall, Henin-Hardenne is dwarfed by some of her rivals but after she cut her last 24 opponents down to size few will relish standing in her way.

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