Good things come in threes

Henin-Hardenne downs Clijsters for third time in Grand Slam final

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Justine Henin-Hardenne plays her best against Kim Clijsters when it counts the most.

Justine Henin-Hardenne needs only a Wimbledon singles title to complete her career Grand Slam. AP

Henin-Hardenne won her third Grand Slam title and extended her dominance in major finals against Clijsters with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory Saturday in the Australian Open women's title match.

Henin-Hardenne consistently beat Clijsters with one-fisted backhand shots, extending her unbeaten streak against her fellow Belgian to three Grand Slam finals. The victory also assured Henin-Hardenne of keeping her No. 1 ranking.

"It was really emotional, both of us were really nervous," Henin-Hardenne said. "I have three Grand Slam titles now, it's wonderful."

Retaining the top ranking "wasn't my main goal today, just winning this Grand Slam," she said. "So it's two big things in a day."

Henin-Hardenne, who beat Clijsters to win the 2003 French Open and U.S. Open titles, broke in the second and fourth games of the deciding set.

Clijsters broke back at 1-4, held and then got back on serve with a backhand winner down the line.

She had two game points while trying to level the set at 4-4, but double-faulted both times.

Facing break point, Clijsters smacked a swinging forehand that was originally called good at the baseline. But chair umpire Sandra De Jenken of France overruled and called it out after Henin-Hardenne complained.

TV replays appeared to show the ball barely catching the line.

Henin-Hardenne, serving at 5-3, closed it out in 1 hour, 47 minutes with a first serve that Clijsters couldn't return.

"I just tried to stay focused on every point. But game after game, I was feeling more nervous," Henin-Hardenne said. "I'm not afraid of anyone, but sometimes I'm afraid of myself. The mental part is very important.

"Being stronger physically helps, and being stronger in my head."

After match point, she spun her racket in the air and slumped to her knees, crouching with both hands over her face. She stood up and raised both arms in the air before meeting and kissing Clijsters at the net.

Both women were in their first Australian Open final, and it was Henin-Hardenne's third major title in the last four Grand Slams. Wimbledon now stands as the only major she hasn't won.

To clear that final hurdle, Henin-Hardenne said she has to improve her grass court game to match the power of the Williams sisters. Serena Williams, the 2003 Australian Open champion, didn't recover from a knee operation in time to defend the title, and Venus Williams, coming back from six months off with recurring abdominal muscle problems, was upset in the third round.

Clijsters is 0-4 in Grand Slam finals, 0-3 against Henin-Hardenne and 0-1 against Jennifer Capriati (2001 French Open).

"I want to congratulate Kim for a wonderful tournament," said Henin-Hardenne, only the ninth woman to hold three of the four majors at one time. "She wasn't sure she could play and she did and she fought a lot."

Clijsters injured her left ankle at the Hopman Cup three weeks ago and was a questionable starter at Melbourne Park. She was bothered by the ankle problem in two previous matches, but showed no signs of pain in the final.

"I think she played a great final and in the end she was too good," Clijsters said. "This has been an incredible two weeks for me, 2 1/2 weeks ago I didn't think I'd be able to play."

She said she didn't get the practice she needed and wasn't 100 percent, "but at least I gave myself a shot at it."

And she didn't make an issue of the chair umpire's overrule in a tense final set.

"At the point, it was very disappointing. A few people have told me it was in," she said. "I'm not going to blame the umpire, because everyone makes mistakes."

Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne have been friends since junior tournaments. They have split 18 matches on tour, but Henin-Hardenne leads 3-2 in Grand Slam matches.

Henin-Hardenne appeared to be in complete control after taking the first set and going up 4-2 in the second. But Clijsters ran off the next four games to take the second, the first set Henin-Hardenne dropped in the tournament.

As the fiancee of Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, Clijsters clearly had the packed center-court crowd behind her. Her mother, Els, was sitting with Hewitt, his parents and golf star Greg Norman, a two-time British Open champion.

She was first on court after every changeover. Henin-Hardenne spent as much time as possible in the shade behind the baseline, slowing down her opponent's momentum.

Just before the match, officials opened the roof over Rod Laver Arena after early morning rain cleared.

Henin-Hardenne finished with 30 winners and 38 unforced errors. Clijsters had 12 winners and 43 unforced errors, winning points only half of the 28 times she went to the net.

In the later men's doubles final, defending champions Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro of France faced top-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan.

The men's final Sunday features Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, who will rise to the No. 1 ranking next week, against 2000 U.S. Open champion Marat Safin.