Top-ranked Justine Henin retired from tennis yesterday at the age of 25, ending a career in which she won seven Grand Slam titles.

"This is the end of a child's dream," Henin said in announcing her immediate departure from a sport she has dominated for the past two years. "This is a definitive decision. Those who know me know it is serious."

Henin's surprise decision came less than two weeks before the start of the French Open, a tournament she has won four times, including the last three years.

Henin won 10 tournaments last year, but has been in one of the worst slumps of her career this season. She was upset last week in the third round of the German Open and pulled out of this week's Italian Open citing fatigue.

"I thought long about this," Henin said at a news conference, her voice cracking and eyes watering. "I started thinking about it late last year. I was at the end of the road. I leave with my head held high."

Henin's retirement came a day after Sweden's Annika Sorenstam - winner of 10 women's golf majors - announced that she was quitting at the end of the season.

Last year, Belgium's Kim Clijsters - a former number-one player - retired at 23. She has since married and become a mother.

Henin, who has battled through injuries and a divorce, had a standout season in 2007, winning two Grand Slams, eight other tour titles and more than US$5 million.

However, after winning her home tournament in Antwerp in February, she has been on one of the worst skids of her career, failing to go beyond the quarter-finals at any event.

Henin's year began with a 6-4, 6-0 loss to Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January, followed by a 6-2, 6-0 drubbing by Serena Williams at the Sony Ericsson Open in April, the worst loss for a top-ranked player in nine years.