The 27-year-old Belgian tennis legend hit her last ball in anger on the tour in May 2008 during a match where she was defeated by current world number one Dinara Safina.
At the time she cited a lack of passion for the game as the reason why she was hanging up her tennis racquet.
Announcing the plan to reverse her decision on Belgian TV, she said: 'These past 15 months have been enriching but there is a flame that has been re-lit. I thought it had been put out forever.'
The former world number one is well aware how successful her compatriot Kim Clijsters' recent comeback has been. Clijsters was absent from the game for two and a half years, during which time baby Jaden was born. Incredibly she won the US Open on her return to the circuit despite not having played enough tournaments to merit a world ranking.
Yet Henin denied that Clijsters New York fairytale was a motivation for her own return. She said: Subconsciously, it might have had an impact. But it certainly was not the most important reason.'
Henin first came to the world's attention when she reached the Wimbledon final as an unknown player, losing to Venus Williams.
Yet despite the All England Club being the scene of her breakthrough, Wimbledon is the only one of the four Grand Slams she has yet to win.
She was favourite in 2007 but fell to a shock defeat to the unheralded Marion Bartoli in the semi-finals.
Speaking of her desire to add the Wimbledon title to her incredible CV, she said: 'It is a dream of mine. I want to work to get it. It is a priority.'
Her single-handed backhand, which John McEnroe once described as the best backhand on either the men's or the women's tour, could be the key to how successful her comeback is.
It was a stroke which helped her beat bigger and harder-hitting opponents and broke the stranglehold the Williams sisters had on the ladies' game.
Two exhibition matches have been pencilled into the Henin diary with January's Australian Open looming large in her plans.
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