BERLIN, Germany (AFP) - Justine Henin-Hardenne made herself the unofficial favourite for the French Open in a fortnight's time when she became the first woman for a decade to win three successive clay court build-up tournaments.

The former triple Grand Slam titleholder achieved that when she beat Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to win a German Open final containing three rain delays which extended it to three on-off helter-skelter hours.

Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne with her trophy after winning the WTA German Tennis Open in Berlin yesterday. She defeated Russia's Nadia Petrova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. (Photo: AFP)

It followed Henin's triumphs in Charleston and Warsaw and meant that only six weeks into a comeback after seven months with a sequence of injuries and a fatiguing, career-threatening virus, she can claim to be playing as effectively as ever.
As effectively, but differently.

She took more risks, with drops, net approaches and with counter-hitting, not just to develop facets of her game, but to act as an insurance policy against fatigue which might threaten her career.
"It was a very difficult match for me but a great match," she said.
"I was tired but that was normal because I have had a lot of tennis.

It's been very hard for me in the last couple of weeks. But now I have two weeks rest and preparation before Roland Garros, so I will be ready."

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World