Serena wins Australian Open

Defending champion and top seed Serena Williams powered to her fifth Australian Open title and 12th Grand Slam when she beat a brave Justine Henin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 yesterday.

Williams took a tight first set then had to hold off a charging Henin to deny the Belgian a fairytale ending to her tennis comeback in a thrilling two hours seven minutes final on Rod Laver Arena. "Justine's had such a fabulous tournament and she gave me such a run today," Williams said.

"It could have gone either way."

The American claimed her 12th Grand Slam with the win, putting her alongside fellow American Billie Jean King on the list of all time major winners.

It was fitting that the final was played in front of King and Australian great Margaret Smith Court, who won a record 24 Grand Slams, along with a host of other former champions.

Williams was made to work hard by the tenacious Henin, playing only her second tournament since coming out of an 18-month retirement and needing a wildcard to enter.

In the end it was Williams' sheer power that won out as her huge serves and booming groundstrokes eventually wore Henin down and forced costly errors.

Williams served better throughout, making 64 per cent of her first serves as opposed to Henin's 55 per cent, with many of those unplayable. Henin showed, however, that she is still a real force and capable of adding to her seven Grand Slam titles.

"It's been a very emotional two weeks for me," said the Belgian.

"I thought it would never happen again. But I can say this, I will see you again next year."

Williams opened the match with a swinging ace but struggled after that, her first two service games lasting eight minutes each.

Henin had her chances to break but it was the Belgian who cracked first, losing her next service game to love to give Williams the advantage.

Henin had another opportunity in the next game, which Williams saved but the American could not save yet another when serving at 4-2 and the set was back on serve.

Games went with serve until 4-5 when Henin sent down two double faults to give Williams set point, which she took when a backhand from Henin clipped the net cord and landed just wide.

Williams came out attacking at the start of the second and had her chance to break Henin and take a 2-0 lead when she had 15-40, but Henin fought back to save her serve and then broke Williams to love in the next game.

Williams showed just why she is such a champion when she broke right back to level the set at 2-2 only for Henin to attack again at 3-3 and break the defending champion for the second time in the set.

She then held to love and broke Williams to love to win 10 consecutive points and five straight games to even the match up at one set apiece. Henin kept the momentum going as she won her opening serve to love and had Williams at 15-40, but the American stopped the flow, held serve and then broke Henin to take an early advantage in the decider.

"I just thought 'I've got to 'man up', this is my chance'," Williams said. "I thought I had one more set and I just had to get through it."

Henin came right back, breaking Williams on her second break point to put the set back on serve, only to lose her next serve when her trademark backhand sailed long.

Williams then held to go ahead 4-2 and broke again as Henin appeared to tire.

The American came out and served two aces on her way to 40-0 and three championship points.

Henin saved one but could not save the next as a powerful Williams backhand left her stranded on the baseline.

Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.