Serena Williams wins fifth Australian Open
Serena Williams wins fifth Australian Open
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Saturday, 30, Jan 2010 01:00
By Lewis Bazley.
Defening champion Serena Williams beat the returning Justine Henin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to claim her fifth Australian Open title.
Williams edged a tight first set before Henin played on strong support from the Rod Laver Arena crowd to level the match in the second.
Though the opening games of the third set exemplified the closeness of this fantastic final, Henin faltered too often and clinical play from Williams powered the American to yet another Grand Slam win.
The defending champion had moved into a 4-1 lead as she held her serve to boos from the crowd after a Henin drop shot had been called out and then corrected by the line judge, before the point was replayed.
Henin fought back, however, comfortably holding her serve before breaking Williams with a strong forehand. The Belgian levelled the set with a love hold in the eighth game, but a subsequent loved hold from Williams followed by an Henin error at set point saw Williams claim the first set.
Tensions were high in the second set as loose play from Williams saw Henin claim an early break and though Willliams broke back before holding her serve, former world number one Henin seized on the crowd's support to charge ahead.
She recovered to deuce in the sixth game to hold her serve before breaking Williams in the seventh with a smooth backhand and firm return to the American's serve.
Henin held her serve with aplomb in the ninth game of the second set and then dominated Williams' serve to take the second set to huge applause from the Melbourne crowd.
Momentum in the third set swayed between the two, Henin holding initially and looking certain to break until Williams roared back with an ace and a charging volley. The American then broke with a swift cross-court backhand only for Henin to level the set after nailing the last of three break points.
But hopes for a fairytale return for Henin were dashed as Williams claimed three games on the trot, holding her serve with an ace in the midst of breaking Henin twice.
Williams had three match points as she served with the third set poised at 5-2 and though Henin weathered the first, a subsequent backhand winner from Williams sealed the victory.