Later this week in Indian Wells, Serena Williams will begin her quest for yet another major trophy to put on her overcrowded mantelpiece.

And as the World No.1 is adding the finishing touches ahead of her bid to reclaim the Indian Wells crown, one of her former rivals received confirmation over her induction to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

In the 2000s Belgium’s Justine Henin battled it out with Williams, her sister Venus, Lindsay Davenport, Amélie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters for domination of a golden era in women’s tennis.

Born in Belgium’s industrial heartland of Liège, it is perhaps unsurprising that hard-work was the cornerstone of Justine Henin’s rise to tennis greatness.

Competing in an era populated by Amazonian specimens, at first, Henin was viewed as too petite to survive. But, belying her 5′ 5″ frame, the Belgian undertook a grueling fitness regimen to transform her body and game into a force to be reckoned with.

This physical transformation played a pivotal role in Henin’s first two majors, enabling her to recover from grueling semifinals to lift both the French and US Opens in 2003. Yet, it would be a gross misrepresentation to label Henin as merely a gutsy street fighter.

If anything, she was more artist than aggressor, painting pictures on the court with her elegant groundstrokes and balletic movement. In the end, this combination of grace and guts brought her seven majors – four on the red clay of her beloved Roland Garros – Olympic gold and a place alongside the all-time greats.

Since retiring for a second time in 2011, Henin has stayed close to the game, opening an academy and undertaking regular television work. More recently, she has stepped up her coaching, joining up with Top 20 player Elina Svitolina.

Also inducted in the Class of 2016 is fellow Grand Slam champions Marat Safin, Yvon Petra and Margaret Scriven.

“It’s a big honor. I was five years old when I started playing tennis and my dream was to become a champion,” Henin said. “All of the things that then happened- all the dreams that came true, all the victories and Grand Slams, and every emotion that I lived in my tennis career remains something very important in my life today. Being part of the Hall of Fame says that it will remain something forever, and that is very special. I am really honored.”

“It is a pleasure to announce the induction of Justine Henin and Marat Safin into the International Tennis Hall of Fame,” International Tennis Hall of Fame President Stan Smith added. “Justine and Marat committed themselves to the sport and worked relentlessly to being champions of the highest caliber. As a result, they achieved extraordinary careers with world No. 1 rankings and Grand Slam tournament victories.”

The Class of 2016 Enshrinement Ceremony will be hosted on Saturday, July 16, 2016 during the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.