PARIS (Reuters) - Justine Henin said on Saturday she would soon be ready to start her new life at the age of 25 after retiring from tennis last week.

The Belgian called time on her career as the world number one having claimed seven grand slam titles, including four French Open crowns.

"I don't need to be on the centre court (of Roland Garros) to live these emotions I experienced because nobody is going to take them away from me," she told a news conference.

Henin was just a few yards from the court where she won her third consecutive French Open almost a year ago.

Although she will watch the matches starting on Sunday, she said she would now focus on "the real Justine".

"I'm going to be myself. I'm going to do something else," she said.

"I think that it is important to just move on. Tennis has been a big part of my life, and I have no regrets about that.

"I don't think ... with my character that I'm the kind of person that's going to say maybe in two years, well, I miss tennis," she added.

Henin will now turn her attention to the foundation she created in 2004, Justine's Winners' Circle, that gives financial assistance to families with sick children.

"Of course, it was my goal after my career was over to be more involved in my academies and my club and my different projects, and my foundation also," she said.

"Because I've been really frustrated. I did not have enough time to be focused on different activities I've had.

"I feel really proud of the academy because I can give tennis what it gave to me a long time ago."

Henin's Sixth Sense Academy, based in Belgium, was created with her coach Carlos Rodriguez to help players develop.

She will cut loose this summer with a trip to Greece before really starting afresh in September.

"Nostalgia is no use. I was very happy to accept everything tennis could offer me and I have no regrets. I can move on to something else and look at tennis from an outside perspective," she said.

(Editing by Sonia Oxley)