An indomitable Justine Henin-Hardenne pummeled Belgian compatriot Kim Clijsters 7-5, 6-1 to lift the US Open title on Saturday and cap one of the most remarkable recoveries in grand slam history.

Laid out on the Flushing Meadows infirmary with an IV drip in her arm following her three-hour, three-set epic semi-final win over American Jennifer Capriati 24-hours earlier, Henin returned to the court and produced a storming effort to claim her second grand slam of the season.

Both of Henin's major successes have come at the expense of Clijsters, having also beaten the world number one in the final of the French Open in June.

Henin fought off two set points in the opening set and them produced some immaculate tennis to race away with the title in just 81 minutes.

The 21-year-old second seed got the final off to the best possible start, breaking a jittery Clijsters on the first two opportunities on way to a 3-0 lead.

Her punishing groundstrokes starting to find their range, Clijsters recovered from her shockingly slow start by breaking back at 3-1 as Henin double-faulted.

HELD SERVE

Finally in a rhythm, Clijsters held serve for the first time in the match to go 3-2 but missed an opportunity to get back on level terms when she squandered two break points before allowing Henin to hold for 4-2.

But Clijsters would not waste her opportunities a second time, converting the first of two break points at 4-3 to put the set back on serve.

Now it was Clijsters in control, confidently holding serve with a lunging forehand winner that brought an ovation from the packed Arthur Ashe stadium and a fist-pump from the Belgian, reminiscent of boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt watching from the stands.

Henin again found herself in trouble down two break points and battling to hold serve and save the set at 5-4 but this time Clijsters would not convert leaving the score tied at 5-5.

Displaying the same grit that carried her past Capriati, Henin dug deep into her reserves to claim the decisive break to go up 6-5.

She then held serve, taking the set in 51 minutes when Clijsters plowed a forehand into net for her 30th unforced error.

It was the first set dropped by Clijsters the entire tournament.

An unrelenting Henin started the second set the way she began the first with a pair of breaks on way to another 3-0 lead.

This time Henin would not offer Clijsters an opportunity to get back into the match, holding serve to go 4-0.

Clijsters would finally stop the skid by holding serve at 4-1 but the road back was too far, Henin finishing off her beleaguered compatriot with another break.

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