Tennis: Mauresmo holds nerve to win Wimbledon title

LONDON - Amelie Mauresmo won an emotional first Wimbledon singles title this morning, 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 here 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 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."

Defeat denied Henin-Hardenne the only grand slam title missing from her collection.

The Belgian had come out firing on all cylinders on a sunlit Centre Court to blaze through the first set in just 31 minutes.

The third seed, a runner-up here five years ago, seized control when she broke an edgy Mauresmo in 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 winners as Mauresmo was given a baptism of fire in her first Wimbledon singles final.

The top seed settled her nerves with a sweet 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, who won her first grand slam title at this year's Australian Open when Henin-Hardenne retired in the final with illness, continued to look second best and was broken again to fall behind 5-2.

Henin-Hardenne then 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.

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.

From being almost out of the set, Henin-Hardenne was suddenly revitalised and recovered the break in the next game when Mauresmo framed a backhand over the baseline.

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, so often criticised as a choker, appeared to be the more solid of the two at the beginning of the deciding set.

Henin-Hardenne produced a rash of unforced baseline errors to drop serve at 1-1 and Mauresmo then 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 with thrilling forecourt rally that had both players at full stretch.

With just one break of serve separating the players the final was still balanced on a knife edge but Mauresmo maintained her advantage, keeping Henin-Hardenne at arms' length with some well-placed serving.

A wild forehand into the tramlines from Henin-Hardenne put Mauresmo just one game away from the title and although she held serve at 3-5 Mauresmo would not be denied.

The Frenchwoman found the corner with a backhand volley at 30-30 to take her to match point.

The tension was unbearable as Mauresmo missed her first serve and then looped in her second delivery, but on the fifth stroke of the rally Henin-Hardenne thrashed a forehand into the net.

- REUTERS