Monday, September 10, 2007
Henin beats Kuznetsova for 7th major title
NEW YORK—Top-seeded Justine Henin capped a dominant run and overwhelmed No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-1, 6-3 Saturday night to win her second US Open title and seventh major championship overall.
Henin, who also won the 2003 Open, did not drop a set all tournament and became the first woman to win a Grand Slam after beating both Williams sisters along the way.
“I had two amazing weeks,” Henin said, “and played my best tennis.”
The only help Henin needed was when she got a boost from a couple of fans while she climbed into the stands to greet her coach after the match ended.
Kuznetsova matched the fewest number of games for a US Open women’s runner-up in the past 31 years, making Henin work for less than 1 1/2 hours.
“I hope to be back with a better game in the final next time,” the Russian said, praising her opponent for “an unbelievable tournament.”
It was reminiscent of some of Henin’s past routs in major finals, including dropping three games to Ana Ivanovic while winning a third consecutive French Open title in June, and ceding two games to Mary Pierce at Roland Garros in 2005.
The victory gave Henin her second major title of the year and a tour-leading seven titles while going 50-4 at 11 tournaments.
Edge
Against Kuznetsova, Henin finished with a 25-11 edge in winners and saved all six break points she faced, including three in the final game.
She showed off all aspects of her versatile game, from volleys - winning the point on 13 of 16 trips to the net - to passing shots on the run to returns of serve, punctuating most with shouts of “Allez!”
Henin missed her trademark backhand on the match’s first two points, then went to work, taking nine of the next 10 points while going up 4-0. Even when she faltered, double-faulting twice in a row at 3-0, she recovered to hold, throwing herself into a 177 kph service winner and a 158 kph second-serve ace. (AP)
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