Henin-Hardenne fails to claim 6th Grand Slam

8 July 2006

BRUSSELS — Amelie Mauresmo came back from a set down to defeat Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6 6-3 6-4 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.

The Frenchwoman’s first Wimbledon title comes after she also won the Australian Open in January when Henin-Hardenne retired in the final.

Henin-Hardenne, this year’s French Open champion, had been looking to become only the 10th woman in history to win all four Grand Slam titles.

And Saturday’s final was a tense, nerve-racking affair, but Mauresmo held on for an emotional win. After taking out the match, she dropped to her knees and burst into tears.

Ridiculed for her lack of nerve in year’s past, Mauresmo toughed the match out this time and said afterwards that she doesn’t want anyone to talk about her nerves again.

The victory earned Mauresmo her second major and also cleared much of the ill will between her and Henin-Hardenne stemming from their shortened Australian Open encounter in January.

The victory proves she could have defeated Henin-Hardenne in Melbourne, despite the fact Henin-Hardenne has insisted she was suffering from a stomach complaint on the day, refusing also to praise her opponent.

But Henin-Hardenne — who is yet to add Wimbledon to her tally of five Grand Slam victories — awarded full compliments to Mauresmo in London on Saturday.

“There’s nothing else to say: she was better than me on the day and she took her chances,” she said.

“I am pretty tired after winning the French Open and Eastbourne, but it’s been a good few weeks and even here, I had a very good time.

“It’s been very positive and I’ll be back and get my chance another time.”

Subject: Belgian news