Henin makes much-awaited return at Paris Open

PARIS, Feb 4 (Reuters) Justine Henin-Hardenne will make a much-awaited return when she joins a very competitive field in this week's Paris Open.

The Belgian, who lost her world number one spot to Maria Sharapova after skipping the Australian Open for personal reasons, will have to deal with a host of top Russians as well as holder Amelie Mauresmo of France.

Henin-Hardenne announced last month that she would not take part in the first Grand Slam of the year following her split from husband Pierre-Yves.

The 24-year-old, French-speaking Henin played her last competitive game when she beat Mauresmo 6-4 6-3 in last year's season-ending Tour championship in Madrid on November. 12.

Henin, who has a bye for the first round, faces a possible second-round clash with Greek Eleni Daniilidou.

The field for the open, which starts tomorrow, includes Russians Nadia Petrova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina, a winner here in 2005.

Mauresmo, who has also been granted a first-round bye, will be eager to get back to winning ways following her disappointing third-round defeat at the Australian Open.

''She is going to play very well, I am very confident about her technical skills,'' said the Frenchwoman's former coach Jean-Claude Perrin.

Czech Nicole Vaidisova, seeded fifth, will face Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai and a possible second-round meeting with compatriot Lucie Safarova in a replay of their Australian Open quarter-final.

Russia's Elena Dementieva and Belgian Kim Clijsters have both pulled out of France's first tennis event of the year with injuries.

REUTERS MS PM2111