Henin-Hardenne wins first WTA Championships title - 網球

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Henin-Hardenne wins first WTA Championships title
Associated Press

MADRID, Spain -- Justine Henin-Hardenne finally figured out how to beat
Amelie Mauresmo this year with a title on the line.

Justine Henin-Hardenne will end the year as the top player in women's tennis.
Henin-Hardenne, who will finish the year ranked No. 1, captured her first WTA
Championships title Sunday, winning 6-4, 6-3 as Mauresmo double-faulted on
match point.

And, in Henin-Hardenne's mind, this stands with any victory in a major.

"I proved some things to myself at the end of the season and I'm No. 1, so
today is as good as winning a Grand Slam," the Belgian said. "It was a tough
challenge for me. I didn't really know what to expect when I got here."

What she got Sunday was a familiar opponent. Mauresmo won the Australian Open
and Wimbledon by defeating Henin-Hardenne in the final. The Frenchwoman also
rallied to beat Henin-Hardenne in Friday's final group game.

"Today I decided to put a lot of pressure on her, and I think I just played
amazing tennis in the last three games of the second set," Henin-Hardenne
said.

She missed nearly two months while recovering from a muscle tear in her right
knee.

"You know how hard it was in the last few weeks and I didn't expect to win
it," she said. "I played very aggressive and I really wanted this victory so
I came out only to win it. I put a lot of pressure on every point."

Henin-Hardenne is the first player since Steffi Graf in 1993 to reach all
four Grand Slams finals and the WTA Championships final in the same year, and
only the fifth ever.

The Belgian won the French Open but lost to Maria Sharapova in the U.S. Open
final. She earned $1 million for Sunday's victory and Mauresmo took home
$500,000.

"I didn't raise my game and take advantage of my opportunities when I needed
to," Mauresmo said. "She seized the opportunities, and came to the net, and I
couldn't produce the points like I did yesterday to come from behind and win
it."

Henin-Hardenne, assured her No. 1 ranking a day earlier, was almost forced to
miss the championships for the third straight year because of injury.

"I came here with a lot of questions in my mind and I didn't know if I would
be able to fulfill what was necessary to win, winning five matches in six
days," she added. "I'm just so happy right now, I can't explain it."

Henin-Hardenne had 16 break points, including nine double-break chances in 10
of Mauresmo's service games. After Mauresmo broke to tie it 3-3 in the second
set, the Belgian played almost flawless tennis, breaking twice over the final
three games.

"I was more tired on Friday, so today I came in with more determination,
tension, and even nervousness," Henin-Hardenne said. "But from 3-2 up in
second, I played the best tennis of my week. I came here without ideal
preparation, so I thought coming to the net would be the best way of scoring
points today."

Henin-Hardenne opened with serve-and-volley play that produced three net
points. She then mixed aggressive net play with baseline rallies. Unforced
errors followed, but Mauresmo was on the defensive.

"I think it's tough every day to produce the kind of tennis I played
yesterday," Mauresmo said, referring to her three-set victory over two-time
champion Kim Clijsters in the semifinals.

Mauresmo was unhappy with her serve, her forehand and her response to
Henin-Hardenne's forays to the net.

"No excuses," Mauresmo said. "She just basically played better than me today."

Henin-Hardenne earned the top ranking by reaching the final, and Sharapova
will be No. 2 when the new rankings are released Monday. Mauresmo will finish
No. 3.

"I think slowly, with a little relaxation and in the next few days, I'll look
back on a great season," Mauresmo said. "You can't always win the big titles,
but it gives some perspective going into 2007."

Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur won the doubles title again, beating Cara
Black and Rennae Stubbs 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a repeat of the last year's final.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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