MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Defending champion and top seed Serena Williams powered to her fifth Australian Open title and 12th Grand Slam when she beat a brave Justine Henin, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2,yesterday.

Williams took a tight first set then had to hold off a charging Henin to deny the Belgian a fairytale ending to her tennis comeback in a thrilling final on Rod Laver Arena.

The American claimed her 12th Grand Slam with the win, putting her alongside fellow American Billie Jean King on the list of all time major winners.

It was fitting that the final was played in front of King and Australian great Margaret Smith Court, who won a record 24 Grand Slams and handed Williams her trophy.

Williams said she hung on grimly as Henin went on a 15-point, five-game winning streak midway through the match.

The world number one looked in complete control when she led 6-4 and had a break point on Henin’s serve to make it 4-3 with her serve to come.

But the unseeded Belgian then went on her incredible rampage to win the second set and take an early advantage in the third, before Williams stormed back.

“I lost so many points in a row I thought: ‘Gosh, I was up 15-40 at one point and could have broke her’,” Williams said.

“I just definitely stayed positive,” she added. “I had so many chances in the second — I had so many chances and I didn’t capitalise on them.

“So in the third, I knew I would have chances again just to capitalise on that one chance, in that one moment.”

Williams’ victory ended the fairytale for Henin, who came out of retirement at the beginning of the year and was hoping to emulate Kim Clijsters’ feat of winning the US Open on her comeback to tennis.

She said despite the loss she was still elated at what she had achieved.

“Of course I’m disappointed, I mean, when you lose in the final of a Grand Slam, especially in three sets, and I got a few opportunities that I wasn’t able to take,” she said.