CANBERRA, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Belgium's former world No. 1 Justine Henin will test her comeback against world's best tennis players after being granted a wild-card entry into next month's Sydney International.

    Henin will join a field spearheaded by current world No. 1 Serena Williams, as nine of the women's top 10 will compete at the Sydney International, local media reported Monday.

    Henin is due to make her official return to the WTA circuit, after an 18-month absence, at the Brisbane International tournament that starts on Jan. 3 next year.

    Henin, 27, retired on the eve of the 2008 French Open, saying she felt burned out. She stood atop the rankings for 117 non-consecutive weeks and won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including the Australian Open in 2004.