World No. 1 Serena Williams has claimed her 12th Grand Slam title after beating Belgian Justine Henin in a compelling three-set Australian Open final at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday.
The 28-year-old American extended her impressive run in Grand Slam finals, with the 6-4 3-6 6-2 win marking her 12th victory in 15 Slam deciders.
It’s the fifth singles title for the American in Melbourne, with Williams adding to her tournament wins in 2003, 2005, 2007 and last year.
Williams completed the win in two hours and seven minutes, but had to go to a third set after Henin dominated the second and threatened to take her momentum into the third. The defending champion responded and claimed the final set in convincing style.
In picking up the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy for a fifth time, Williams also extended her head-to-head lead to 8-6 over her 27-year-old opponent.
Henin, playing just her 11th match since returning from retirement in 2008, fought hard throughout, winning only five fewer points in the match. However, her low first serve percentage (50 per cent), six double faults and Williams’ 12 aces conspired to keep her from claiming an eighth Grand Slam title.
Williams’ service game looked shaky early in the first set as Henin created multiple break points in the first three games. The defending champion was able to hold strong to go to 2-1, including three aces in the third game alone.
The American then pounced in the following game, breaking serve as Henin double-faulted and made two unforced errors.
Henin created plenty of further break chances later in the set, eventually bringing the score back to 4-4. However, Williams then held serve easily and managed to break in the 10th game to close out the set 6-4 in 51 minutes.
It was the Belgian who looked lively early in the second set, claiming a break in the third game. Equal to the challenge, Williams broke straight back and then held to go ahead 3-2.
Henin then found form late in the second set, and from 3-3, she went on a spree, breaking Williams twice and taking the set 6-3 as the American produced numerous uncharacteristic unforced errors.
Henin continued her hot streak into the third set, winning 15 points in a row and creating two break points on the Williams serve.
The defending champion soon found her first serve rhythm again, and sent down a 197km/h ace to send the game to deuce. She held, and from that point never looked back as she broke the Belgian twice and took the set, and the championship.
Henin had five opportunities to break Williams’ serve in the final set, but, like in the first set, she failed to capitalise. In total, the Belgian took just five of 16 break chances, while Williams claimed six of her 11 opportunities.
Fast facts
- Williams served at 64 per cent, while Henin served at 50 per cent on first serves.
- Henin had 32 unforced errors to the 37 recorded by Williams.
- Williams won 90 points to Henin’s 85.
- The American converted six of her 11 break-point opportunities, while the Belgian was 5-for-16 on break point chances.
- Williams hit 12 aces to the Belgian's four.
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