World number one Justine Henin is to announce her retirement from professional tennis, according to media reports in Belgium.

Henin will confirm her decision at a press conference on Wednesday, says De Standaard.

The shock news comes less than two weeks before Henin is due to begin the defence of her French Open title.

The 25-year-old has won at Roland Garros four times, including each of the last three years and she has seven Grand Slam titles to her name.

Henin has struggled with fatigue and fitness this year and she pulled out of the Italian Open this week after losing to Dinara Safina in the third round in Berlin.

She began the year by winning in Sydney, before losing to Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

Henin then won her home event in Antwerp, but has since suffered early exits to Serena Williams, Francesca Schiavone and Safina.