By DPA
New York : Justine Henin began her tennis season on a low, skipping the Australian Open in January due to the end of her marriage.
But she has ended the 2007 Grand Slam season in triumph by winning two of the three events she entered: a fourth career title at Roland Garros and a second US Open, achieved in straight sets Saturday over Svetlana Kuznetsova.
“This one is maybe the most important one. The quality I played in the last few matches is amazing,” said Henin. “I had a tough draw, and I had a lot of things to prove to myself – not to anyone else. And I did.”
Henin’s seventh singles title at a major was a confidence-building burst for the Belgian, who has ridden an emotional and physical roller-coasters during the wild swings of her career.
She now stands just one title behind the leader of the current generation, Serena Williams, whose star has been sliding as her focus drifts from tennis to fashion, Hollywood glamour and high-living.
None of the above applies to the austere, low-key Henin, whose European temperament finds the gaudy, in-your-face New York ambience far from her liking.
“Tonight, I love New York,” she said in victory. “But sometimes I hate New York. It takes me a lot of energy.
“It’s probably the hardest Grand Slam to win because it’s a crazy city. It’s a big show over here.
“I wasn’t used to it really. It’s not in my personality. But I started to really enjoy every moment of it this year. It was a great atmosphere. It’s gonna be a very good souvenir for me. This one is probably not my favourite, but today I love it a little bit more than last year at the same time.”
The world number one, who solidified her position with the comprehensive defeat of Kuznetsova, will have barely a week to rest.
Henin is due in Beijing in a fortnight as she plays the China Open.
Kuznetsova takes over number two for the first time.
The momentum from Henin’s Grand Slam one-two punch will certainly be a tonic during the last two months of the WTA season.
“This gives a lot of confidence like four years ago,” said the 2003 New York champion. “In that year, I won the French and US Open. I did everything the same like four years ago. I went to Niagara Falls after Toronto, where I won in August.
“It’s been the lucky thing. I hope I can keep a lot of confidence from this tournament.”