Justine Henin-Hardenne won her first WTA Championships title on Sunday, beating Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-3 a day after clinching the season-ending number one ranking for the second time.
The Belgian won when Mauresmo double-faulted on match point — her fourth double-fault of the day.
Henin-Hardenne beat Mauresmo in a final for the first time this season. The Frenchwoman won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles over Henin-Hardenne.
”It’s the first time I play well in championships, and it’s not my best surface but I proved I could play here and I played well on it,” Henin-Hardenne said. ”Winning the championships and finishing number one makes it an unbelievable week for me. It’s a great feeling.”
The French Open champion set the tone on the hard indoor court from the first game, and her aggressive play gave her nine double-break chances in Mauresmo’s 10 service games.
”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 committed 17 unforced errors as she often came forward, including a backhand volley into the net in the eighth game that gave Mauresmo her first break to tie it at 4-4.
Henin-Hardenne had 16 break points, and she converted another in the first game of the second set by smashing a return forehand down the line. Mauresmo broke right back, however, as Henin-Hardenne sent a forehand out.
Henin-Hardenne then screamed ”Allez” after hitting another passing backhand to break and lead 3-2.
After two more breaks, Henin-Hardenne held and then watched Mauresmo double-fault on match point.
”You know how hard it was in the last few weeks and I didn’t expect to win it,” Henin-Hardenne said. ”I played very aggressive[ly] and I really wanted this victory so I came out only to win it. I put a lot of pressure on every point.”
The 24-year-old Belgian missed nearly two months while recovering from a muscle tear in her right knee.
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 player to date.
The Belgian won the French Open but lost to Maria Sharapova in the US Open final.
Henin-Hardenne earned $1-million for Sunday’s win, while Mauresmo received $500 000.
Mauresmo will finish as the third-ranked player when the new rankings are released on Monday. Henin-Hardenne earned the top ranking by reaching the final, and Sharapova will be second.
”It’s too bad, but I think slowly tonight, 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 defended their doubles title, beating Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a repeat of the last year’s final. – Sapa-AP