Melbourne, Jan 30 (DPA) Serena Williams claimed her 12th Grand Slam title as she won the Australian Open for the fifth time with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 defeat of Justine Henin Saturday.
Williams, the world number one and top seed, broke her duck of only claiming Melbourne titles in odd-numbered years (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) as she went past seven-time Grand Slam champion Henin in just over two hours.
The result was see-saw, with Henin fighting back to take the contest into a deciding third set by claiming the second by winning 13 of the last 14 points.
But Williams powered her way to a double break in the deciding set, firing two aces in the concluding game to go through on her second match point.
Williams moves alongside women’s tennis pioneer Billie Jean King on one dozen singles titles at majors and improved to 8-6 over Henin.
“I’ve reached my goal, I’m tied with Billie Jean,” said Williams. “Justine had a fabulous tournament.
“She gave me such a run, the match could have gone either way. She is back (in tennis) for sure.”
Henin came close to completing a tennis fairytale as she played in only her second event since ending a 20-month retirement earlier this month with a finals performance in Brisbane.
Henin owns seven Grand Slam titles, including 2004 Australian Open when she beat compatriot Kim Clijsters.
Clijsters led the way in retirement reversals as she won the US Open crown last September after coming back to tennis following marriage and the birth of her daughter.
Williams became the first Melbourne women’s champion to successfully defend her title since Jennifer Capriati in 2002, improving to 8-6 over Henin.
“It’s been a very emotional two weeks for me,” said Henin, whose last Grand Slam event was Australia, 2008, four months before she retired standing atop the WTA rankings.
“I never thought it would happen that I’d be playing match like this.
“The best place to start again is here in Australia, with its culture of sport. It was an honour to play in front of the legends,” she said of an audience which included King, Rosie Casals and Australians Margaret Court and Yvonne Goolagong.
“Now I can finally say it again: see you next year.”
Williams recovered her poise in the third set to end with a dozen aces and 32 winners. She converted on six of 11 break points against Henin.
“It was really cool to play Justine again, you forget how she plays,” said Williams. “But you get used to it. She’s so good, you have to be ready for everything.”
The opening three games dragged on for 21 minutes. Williams finally seized an opening with a break in the fourth on the way to capturing the 51-minute opener with another break of the Belgian after losing her own serve in the seventh game.
Williams said she had to firm in the final set: “I told myself to man-up, this is my chance.
“I just have one more set to get through – and I did. I don’t know how I did it, I kept thinking that I’d soon have days off. I was really happy to get through.
“I finally served better in the third, I was going for it and I came through.”
Williams was playing in her 50th career singles final, polishing her record to 36-14.
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