All hail Henin!

Belgian teen stops Serena, claims German Open title

Justine Henin won her first title of the year. AP

BERLIN (AP) -- Belgian teen-ager Justine Henin finally dug out the clutch shot she needed Sunday to get past one of the Williams sisters.

The eighth-ranked Henin needed three match points before winning the $1.22 million German Open with a wild 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (5) cliffhanger against Serena Williams.

At 5-5 in the tiebreaker, the 19-year-old turned the American's powerful forehand into an unreachable drop shot that decided the match.

"Maybe it was a breakthrough -- I've always been too nervous in these kind of matches," Henin said. "But I played free in the head."

Henin, who ousted top-seeded Jennifer Capriati in the semifinals, won a major tuneup for the French Open after losing three finals to Venus Williams this year.

Henin had also been beaten in last year's Wimbledon final in three sets by the top-ranked American, while dropping both her previous meetings with Serena Williams.

Williams turned the match into a thriller by staging several third-set comebacks in her failed bid to win her first clay-court event.

She trailed 2-4 in the final set and 0-3 in the tiebreaker as the two players exchanged so many spectacular shots the match drew standing ovations from the crowd of 4,000.

For Williams, who will move up to fourth in the rankings, her missing first serve cost her the match as she lost for just the second time this year.

"I think I could have won the match, but I couldn't get a first serve in," Williams said. "It's really strenuous to try and win without it."

In her last seven meetings with one of the Williams sisters, Henin has stretched them to three sets five times. At Amelia Island earlier this year, Henin led Venus Williams 6-2, 4-0 before her nerves crumbled.

But this time, Henin was cool under pressure as Williams won two points in the tiebreaker to pull even at 5-5.

Williams lashed a powerful forehand at her feet near the net on the following point and Henin reached deep and flicked the ball just over the cords.

"The match was won at this point," Henin said.

"That was just a very good shot," Williams said.

Williams, playing her first clay court final, did not appear too disappointed after her comeback fell short and she lost in two hours, 17 minutes. She waved and smiled at the spectators, who were standing and clapping.

"I'm happy, I had a lot of positives in my game, learning experiences," said the 20-year-old American. "Now I'm just going to get ready for Roland Garros."

The grand slam starts in two weeks, with most of the top players scheduled to play at Rome next week in a final warmup.

Under perfect sunny weather, the match got off to a slow start as Williams couldn't keep the ball in play in losing the first set, then blasted nothing but winners in the second.

"It's hard because she hits the ball so hard, makes many mistakes, but there was nothing for me to do -- she didn't give me a chance," Henin said.

In the third set, the 1.67 meter (5-foot-5) Henin and Williams went toe-to-toe, raising their level of play as they kept topping each other with their shots.

Henin drew most of the crowd support as the underdog, because she can compete against the best despite her small wiry frame.

"I could hear them shouting my name -- all players need the support of the crowd," the Belgian said.

Henin took home $182,000, while Williams earned $95,500.

 

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