Maria wins Justin(e) time

NEW YORK: Maria Sharapova won the US Open on Saturday defeating Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4 with a riveting display of power-hitting.

It was the 19-year-old Russian's second Grand Slam title to go with her 2004 Wimbledon win.

In a tense and tightly-fought contest before a capacity 23,000 crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Sharapova's greater weight of shot and power-serving proved too much for the speed and counter-attacking skills of the Belgian.

After Henin-Hardenne netted on match point, Sharapova sunk to her knees and held her head in her hands before running off court to embrace father Yuri.

"I figured I lost the last four times against Justine so I thought I would just flip everything 360 degrees and do the total opposite," she said.

"I am so happy it's here in New York - my favourite city."

Henin-Hardenne, who made it to all four Grand Slam finals in 2006, said Sharapova had fully deserved her win.

"She been a real fighter tonight and she deserves it," she said.

Henin-Hardenne staved off two break points in the opening game against the big-hitting Russian who defeated top seed Amelie Mauresmo of France in three sets in the semi-finals.

Clad in her all-black Audrey Hepburn-inspired "night" outfit, Sharapova then served up two double faults on her own serve and Henin-Hardenne made her pay breaking with a cracking forehand from mid-court for a 2-0 lead.

The third seed hit back immediately, a deft half-volley drop-shot at the net setting up break point which she grabbed with a big forehand drive.

She levelled for 2-2, and games went with serve after that until 4-4 when Henin-Hardenne opened the door to Sharapova with two sloppy backhands into the net.

The Russian then provoked a forehand error that brought up two break points, the second of which she converted with a thumping cross-court forehand of her own that Henin-Hardenne could not return.

Sharapova's forehand again did the damage in the next game setting up set point with a drive down the line and she clinched it with a service winner.

That was the same score as in the Australian Open semi-final in January, a match in which Henin-Hardenne hit back to win.

Sharapova flung in another two double faults at 0-1 down at the start of the second set, but she still managed to level.

Henin-Hardenne won the longest rally of the final to level at deuce and 3-2 up but Sharapova got her way out of trouble with two big serves.

The following game was crucial as Henin-Hardenne wavered again and two forehands, one long and one into the net, gave the Russian the break she was looking for.

She served out twice for the title.

Henin-Hardenne had the satisfaction of being only the seventh woman to contest all four Grand Slam finals in the same year.

She also lost to Amelie Mauresmo in the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals and won the French Open final for her fifth Grand Slam win against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.