CHARLEROI, Belgium (AFP) — Belgium’s former world number one Justine Henin began her return to tennis after an 18-month absence with victory over Italy’s Flavia Pennetta in the Women Tennis Trophy here yesterday.

And the 27-year-old is already dreaming of winning an elusive women’s crown at Wimbledon.

“It is another Justine Henin who will try and go out there and achieve her dream of finally winning Wimbledon,” Henin said.

“I don’t know if it’s possible but that just makes it an even more passionate challenge for me.”

Having beaten compatriot Kirsten Flipkens in the semi-final of this exhibition event on Saturday, Henin defeated Pennetta, currently 12th in the WTA rankings, 6-4, 6-4 to win the trophy.

Although not part of the official circuit, the victory will have given Henin the belief she can once more compete at the top level.

The 27-year-old Belgian announced her retirement from top-level tennis in May 2008 after winning seven Grand Slam titles and spending a total of 117 weeks at the top of the women’s rankings.

Only months earlier, fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters made a stunning return to the sport by winning the US Open after a two-year absence to start a family.

Henin is due to make her official return to the WTA circuit in the Brisbane tournament that starts on January 3 next year, 15 days before the Australian Open in Melbourne.

She added: “To be honest, I don’t have any big expectations as regards results in Australia.

“But I will be delighted just to return to the country again, I love it there, and to the official circuit.

“I’ve never regretted my decision to stop playing but now I’m really excited about the prospect of starting a second career that probably won’t look anything like the first, at least in my mind.”

Before heading Down Under, Henin will compete in another exhibition tournament in Cairo on December 12, when she will face Russia’s 20th ranked Nadia Petrova.