Justin Henin retires from tennis

Henin is the world's No. 1-ranked women's tennis player

Justin Henin is retiring immediately from competitive tennis, the world No. 1-ranked women's tennis player announced in a shock news conference.

"I started thinking about (retirement) late last year"

LIMELETTE, Belgium -- Justin Henin, the world No. 1-ranked women's tennis player, said in her native Belgium Wednesday she is immediately retiring from competitive tennis.

Henin, who will turn 26 on June 1, at a news conference in Limelette, Belgium, said: "I'm at the end of the road. This is the end of a child's dream."

She gave no simple reason for the retirement less than 10 years after turning professional but she withdrew from this week's WTA event in Rome because of fatigue. The announcement comes less than two weeks before the French Open, an event she won each of the last three years.

"I started thinking about (retirement) late last year," she said. "I was at the end of the road. I leave with my head held high."

Henin is coming off a hugely successful year in 2007, when she won 10 tournaments, including the French Open and U.S. Open. She has won seven Grand Slam tournaments and 41 titles overall.

She first reached No. 1 in the rankings Oct. 20, 2003. She's held the top spot 61 consecutive weeks and 117 weeks overall.