France's Amelie Mauresmo celebrates after winning the women's singles final against Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne at Wimbledon, London yesterday. Mauresmo is the first Frenchwoman to win Wimbledon since Suzanne Lenglen in 1925. The world's number one defeated Henin Hardenne 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 after recovering from a torrid start, nervousness and teasing wind. - Reuters
LONDON (Reuters):
AMELIE MAURESMO won an emotional first Wimbledon singles title yesterday, recovering from a torrid start to beat Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The world number one, who also took this year's Australian Open when a sick Henin-Hardenne retired, is the first Frenchwoman to win Wimbledon since Suzanne Lenglen in 1925.
Mauresmo, three-times a losing semi-finalist here, proved wrong those who said her nerve would fail her, playing some dazzling tennis to win in two hours, two minutes.
At the conclusion she sunk to her knees, overcome with joy.
"It feels great. I had a great two weeks," Mauresmo said courtside after being presented with the Venus Rosewater Dish.
"I definitely wanted this win today. I don't want anyone to talk about my nerves anymore.
"It's a great moment for me, this trophy is so special in the world of tennis. I'm very very proud."
Defeat denied French Open champion Henin-Hardenne the only grand slam title missing from her collection.
"She played better than me, she was just too good today," said the Belgian. "I'm pretty tired, but it's been a couple of good weeks for me."
CAME OUT FIRING
Henin-Hardenne came out firing on all cylinders on a sunlit Centre Court to blaze through the first set in just 31 minutes.
The third seed, runner-up here five years ago, seized control when she broke an ill-at-ease Mauresmo in the first game of the match with a flowing volley.
Triple French Open champion Henin-Hardenne dominated the early rallies from the forecourt, striking the ball cleanly and punching away volleys as Mauresmo was given a baptism of fire in her first Wimbledon singles final.
The top seed settled her nerves with a delicate drop volley to get off the mark and the 27-year-old had a chance to break back when trailing 3-2 but Henin-Hardenne snuffed out the opportunity with a simple volley.
Mauresmo continued to look second best and was broken again to fall behind 5-2 and Henin-Hardenne served out a one-sided first set to love with a flashing ace.
The crowd were willing Mauresmo to shake off the tension that was strangling her natural flair.
BREAK POINTS
They got their wish when the Frenchwoman earned two break points at 1-0 in the second set with a grass-cutting sliced return and angled volley.
Henin-Hardenne saved the first with a cute drop shot, but she then hit a forehand long to give Mauresmo a foothold which she strengthened by holding for 3-0.
Mauresmo had points for 4-0 and 5-1 leads as Henin-Hardenne's game went off the boil, but the Belgian dug herself out of trouble on both occasions and recovered the break when Mauresmo framed a backhand over the baseline.
Unruffled, Mauresmo hit straight back with fierce passing shots and moved 5-3 ahead with a dipping forehand after Henin-Hardenne failed to put away a volley.
A teasing wind caused problems for both players as a nervy Mauresmo saved three break points before serving her fourth ace down the middle to take the second set.
Mauresmo, often labelled a choker, appeared to be the mentally tougher at the beginning of the decider.
Henin-Hardenne produced a rash of unforced baseline errors to drop serve at 1-1 and Mauresmo confidently held to love to move 3-1 ahead.
That could have been 4-1 in the next game, but Henin-Hardenne survived a break point after a superb rally that had both players at full stretch.
The final was still balanced on a knife edge, but Mauresmo maintained her advantage, keeping Henin-Hardenne at arms's length with some well-placed serving.
A wild forehand from Henin-Hardenne put Mauresmo just one game away from the title and although she held serve at 3-5 Mauresmo would not buckle.
She found the corner with a sweet backhand volley at 30-30 to take her to match point.
The tension was unbearable as Mauresmo looped in a second delivery, but on the fifth stroke of the rally Henin-Hardenne thrashed a forehand into the net.
