Top > Sport > 2006 > November > 2006-11-14

Henin-Hardenne on top of the world

Justine Henin-Hardenne won the Finals match in her first WTA Championship appearance on Sunday, defeating Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-3 in as little as 90 minutes. Henin-Hardenne will finish the year as world no. 1. Henin-Hardenne said it felt as good as winning a Grand Slam tournament, a feat she failed to achieve twice this year, in the Australian Open and Wimbledon, by reaching the finals only to fall to Mauresmo in both. She earned $1 million for the vistory, while Mauresmo walks away with $500,000.

The Belgian tennis player assured her No. 1 ranking a day earlier. Sharapova will be No. 2 and Mauresmo will finish No. 3. By reaching the finals, Henin-Hardenne has become the first female tennis player to reach all Grand slam tournaments finals and the WTA championship final stage in the same year since Steffi Graf in 1993.

Henin-Hardenne had 16 break points against the defending champion. After the impressive win, she summed the tournament and the year, saying: "It couldn?t have been better, especially as it was doubtful as to whether I would even take part this year.? she has missed a couple of months after suffering a calf injury in the Fed Cup final in September.