Date:10/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/10/stories/2007091054241800.htm

Sport

Henin confirms status with triumph the results

History beckons Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic

ON A HIGH: Top seed Justine Henin lived up to her billing by clinching the U.S. Open 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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.

In the men's final Sunday, No. 1 Roger Federer will meet No. 3 Novak Djokovic. Federer is aiming to become the first man since the 1920s to win the American Grand Slam four years in a row, while Djokovic will be playing in his first major final.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer, seeking to become the first man to win four consecutive U.S. championships since Bill Tilden in 1925, faces No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the final. - AP.