Tennis

Henin beats Mauresmo for Dubai title

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-02-25 08:30

DUBAI - Justine Henin defeated second seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 7-5 on Saturday to win the Dubai Open for the fourth time in five years.

The top seeded Belgian captured her 30th career title after extending her unbeaten streak at the event to 16 matches.

Justine Henin of Belgium celebrates after she beat Amelie Mauresmo of France in their final tennis match for Dubai Duty Free Open. Henin justified the seedings but defied the odds when she retained her Dubai Open title with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Mauresmo in a fine, colourfully varied final. [AFP]

"It's been a very good match," Henin told reporters. "I'm very happy the way I played. A fourth title here in Dubai is an amazing feeling.

"It's only my second tournament back after such a long time, and I could play my best tennis. I'm very happy with the attitude I got. It's been hard for me this week."

For Mauresmo, winner here in 2002, the match proved to be one too many as she was seeking to claim back-to-back titles following her triumph in Antwerp last week.

Although she displayed flashes of brilliance, the Frenchwoman was reduced to playing catch-up after she was broken in the opening game thanks to a flowing backhand pass from Henin.

Mauresmo also floated too many balls that allowed Henin to secure numerous cheap points.

A heavy forehand winner gave Henin a second break for 4-1, but Mauresmo then began to compete more aggressively. She hit a forehand winner to pull one break back in the next game and had three break points to level at 4-4.

But Henin played her way out of trouble and, although she failed to convert a set point in the next game, the Belgian went on to serve out the set to love.

"That was the key of the first set for sure, and probably of the match," Henin said. "She was coming back in the match very strongly and I was starting to feel a little bit nervous. But I had good serves and was pretty aggressive."

Mauresmo had another chance to slow Henin's march to the title when she held a break point to lead 2-0 in the second set.

But Henin dug herself out of trouble with an exquisite low forehand, and then took advantage of an inexplicably poor game from Mauresmo at 5-5.

Mauresmo's sixth double-fault gave Henin the breakthrough and she finished the match by winning the last 12 points.

"I came a little short physically, especially in the second set," said Mauresmo.

"I said at the beginning of the week it was going to be difficult to get through to the end. I almost got there. It was only the matter of a few points here and there. She just played some great shots at the right time."