Serena Williams

Brutal Serena Williams slams home Henin king-hit

SERENA Williams last night muscled her way higher on the list of greats, over-powering Justine Henin to win her 12th grand slam title.

The 6-4 3-6 6-2 disposal of sentimental favourite Henin in the Australian Open final propelled Williams to sixth on the all-time women's grand slams list, equal with her hero Billie Jean King.

Rod Laver Arena is now officially Williams' stage of choice as she has now won five Open titles - all coming since her breakthrough victory in 2003.

In an epic final of several momentum shifts, Williams overcame a horror patch late in the second set to seize control in the third.

It confirmed the world No.1 as one of the best big-time players in history given she has now lost only three of 15 grand slam finals.

Williams tossed her racquet in the air and fell flat on her back as the enormity of the victory set in, and then raced over to her support crew to celebrate.
She received the trophy from legend Margaret Court and quickly paid tribute to King.

"Billie, we are tied, so I've reached my goal," Williams said.

No amount of finesse from a brave Henin could help her overcome the sheer brutality of Williams' game as she found a new level when it counted most, winning back-to-back titles.

At 3-2 in the second set Williams looked set for a reasonably routine victory, but Henin hit back as Williams lost the plot.

It started with a wild second serve that appeared to give Henin renewed hope.

Williams appeared to give the set up, with an eye to the third, losing the last 10 points.

Henin stepped up her game, treating the Williams second serve with contempt.

After losing the set, Williams quickly picked up her handbag and headed in the changerooms for a break, hoping for a momentum shift.

But the toilet stop did nothing to help, with Henin winning the first game of the deciding set to love and then the first of the second game.

When was the last time Williams lost 15 points in a row? It was a clear sign she was in deep, deep trouble.

Then again, you write off Williams at your peril. Out of nowhere, she lifted to serve her way out of strife and then take a 2-1 lead.

Henin refused to submit, though, immediately breaking back to make it 2-2 and ensure this will go down as one of the best women's Open finals in history.

As she has done so often in the past fortnight, Williams lifted fearlessly on the back of her serve and audacious baseline game.

We should have expected it given Williams had never lost an Open match after winning the first set entering last night's final.

A second-serve ace gave Williams a 4-2 lead and she pumped her fists. From there, it it was easy.

Williams clubbed a backhand winner to finally put the brave challenge of Henin to rest.

The Open women's final was all over in under an hour last year, but it was clear early last night that this would be a dogfight.

It took 21 minutes for Williams and Henin to slug out the first three games and sit down for the first time.

Williams barged her way to a 4-1 lead, helped by a horrible mistake by a line judge when facing a break point at 3-1.

A drop shot from the Belgian hit the line, but the line judge called it out, before making a correction. In the meantime, Williams hit it long.

Henin was in control and odds-on to win the point, despite the mistake, yet she was forced to replay the point.

Williams went on to win the game and it was a key moment, even if Henin managed to get back to 4-4, before Williams' brute force again won out.

Henin served two double faults, losing her serve at 4-5. You could not blame her for over-extending given Williams was looking to monster her inferior serve at every opportunity.

In the finish, it would be Henin's serve that cost her as well. She lost three on the trot as Williams stormed home.