Henin-Hardenne Wins Third French Title

Justine Henin-Hardenne won her third French Open title in four years by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-4 at Roland Garros.

The Belgian fifth seed becomes one of only five women to have won back-to-back titles at the clay court Grand Slam in the professional era, and the first since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1994 to win the crown without dropping a set.

Henin-Hardenne was always favourite to win here, having beaten Kuznetsova 10 times in their last 11 meetings, and seized control immediately, breaking her opponent in the opening game, then again at 3-1 to take a 4-1 lead following a Kuznetsova double fault.

The Russian eighth seed fought back to 4-3 before Henin-Hardenne edged her own service game to go 5-3 up.

Serving for the first at 5-4, Henin-Hardenne converted her set point when Kuznetsova struck her forehand shot into the net.

In the second, Kuznetsova took a 2-0 lead after breaking Henin-Hardenne with a great passing shot along the line. The Belgian levelled at 2-2 before breaking her opponent's serve again after a lengthy battle in the seventh game with a winning volley to claim a 4-3 lead.

After both players held their serves to take the score to 5-4, Henin-Hardenne dominated the tenth game of the set to claim her third French Open win.

Henin-Hardenne earned two match points following a powerful backhand from the baseline, and although she missed her first chance by netting her forehand, a wide shot from Kuznetsova allowed her to secure victory.