Just 16 months away from tennis was enough for Justine Henin.

She'll return in January ahead of the Australian Open, complete with a new serve in her quest for a Wimbledon title. It's the only Grand Slam the former No. 1 player didn't win in a 10-year career that produced nearly $20 million in earnings.

Henin's goal is to achieve 70-percent success on her first serves. That improvement, along with her daunting whip backhand, will have opponents scrambling.

"We said that perhaps, one day, we will get there," Henin said yesterday at a news conference in Brussels, a day after announcing her comeback. "I am not (tall), so technically it has to be perfect."

At 5 feet, 6 inches, accuracy and consistency on her first serve had been a problem. With more than three months before her first competitive match, she has time to retool her serve.

"Justine is convinced we can reconstruct her serve," coach Carlos Rodriguez said. "We have time."

Henin wants to play at least until the 2012 London Olympics. By then, she hopes to have won Wimbledon — the only Grand Slam title missing on her resume of four French Open titles, two U.S. Opens and one Australian Open championship.

HOCKEY

GOALIE KOLZIG RETIRES

Veteran goaltender Olaf Kolzig is retiring after 14 seasons in the NHL.

The 39-year-old former Vezina Trophy winner — known as "Olie the Goalie" — spent most of his career with the Washington Capitals.

His 303 career wins rank 21st in the NHL. He posted 35 shutouts in 719 games.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Raymond Felton signed Charlotte's one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer yesterday after the restricted free agent was unable to come to terms on a multi-year contract. ... Veteran forward Matt Harpring will not take part in the team's training camp or preseason and will miss the start of the regular NBA season because of knee injuries and an ankle problem. ... Fabio Fognini of Italy upset second-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain, 6-4, 7-6 (3), yesterday to advance to the quarterfinals of the BCR Open Romania at Bucharest.