By Etienne Stekelenburg
November 17 2002

Justine Henin, the 20 years old who is ranked at #5 in the world, married Pierre-Yves Hardenne on Saturday in her hometown. The newly-wed met in 1998 at an amateur tournament where Henin had to present Hardenne a prize after his victory The ceremonies held in the townhall of Marche-en-Famenne and the church in Marloie, the couples hometown, attrackted hundreds of friends and fans.

Henin had told the press in a recent interview that she wanted a simple and warm wedding. Besides two white limousines a London double-decker bus was waiting to drive the bride and groom with friends and relatives from one ceremony to the other.

The couple was awaited by hundreds of friends and fans outside church throwing flowers and white balloons.The spouses are living together for two years above Hardenne’s family owned butchers shop in Marloie which is located in the region of the Ardennes in Belgium.

The wedding party was held in a 15th-century nearby castle and was attended by some 250 guests including French stars Nathalie Dechy and Sandrine Testud and Belgium's Els Callens.

Kim Clijsters could not be present due to commitments in Australia.

Justine Hardenne-Henin, as she will be called from now on, said she will not start a family before her 30th birthday. She will be on the tour to continue her career as a professional tennis player.

The couple asked friends and relatives not to give them flowers and presents but for a donation to charity for childeren who suffer from cancer.