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By Patrick Vignal
PARIS, June 9 - World number one Justine Henin
completed a rare French Open hat-trick by crushing Serbia's Ana
Ivanovic 6-1 6-2 in the women's final on Saturday.
Belgian Henin totally dominated her 19-year-old opponent,
seeded seventh, to become the first woman to win three
successive Roland Garros titles since Monica Seles in 1992.
Ivanovic, the first player representing Serbia to feature in
the final of a grand slam tournament, challenged the top seed in
the first couple of games but then collapsed.
The 25-year-old Henin, who also won here in 2003, soon took
control and stayed on top until sealing victory with a forehand
volley on the first match point after 65 minutes of a one-sided
contest.
Back at her best after the breakdown of her marriage and her
subsequent withdrawal from this year's Australian Open, Henin
looked far too strong for Ivanovic, who crushed world number two
Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals.
"I was a bit tense at first but then everything went well,"
said Henin, who did not drop a set in the tournament.
"I've been through difficult moments at the start of the
year but I fought to get over them and now I'm really enjoying
myself again," she added.
"When I was little girl, I never dreamed this would happen
to me."
HELPLESS IVANOVIC
Ivanovic was only the shadow of the exciting newcomer who
had thrilled the Paris crowd earlier in the tournament. At times
she looked helpless.
"There will be more finals," she said. "I started okay but
then I became nervous and I couldn't control my serve. What can
I say, she's an amazing player."
Looking sluggish at first, Henin saved two break points in
the opening game but handed her opponent a third with an
unforced error before dropping her service game with a double
fault.
The combative Belgian reacted immediately by breaking back
with a little help from the net cord before holding serve.
Henin then moved in command by breaking Ivanovic in the
fourth game, courtesy of a double fault from the Serbian, and
never let go.
After another break in the sixth game, Henin served for the
set, wrapping it up with a service winner on the first set
point.
A clumsy Ivanovic dropped serve again in the first game of
the second set with another double fault.
The issue already looked beyond doubt at that stage, an
impression that was confirmed when Henin managed another break
in the fifth game.
Henin earned three match points but needed only one to end
Ivanovic's suffering and extend her reign as the queen of the
Paris claycourt tournament.