Serena Williams Wins Fifth Australian Open
Tennis star defeats Justine Henin in three sets for the title
AP
Serena Williams is celebrating down under -- for the fifth time.
Serena Williams is celebrating down under -- for the fifth time.
The tennis great defeated Belgian star Justine Henin to win her fifth Australian Open title since 2003, adding one more piece of hardware to her ever-expanding trophy case.
Williams, 28, defended her 2009 Australian title against Henin, winning in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
She lost the Open in 2008 but won in each previous odd-numbered year since 2003, taking home the 2003, 2005 and 2007 titles in Australia.
Williams, a 12-time Grand Slam singles champion, competed in the tournament alongside sister Venus Williams, who was upset by Chinese player Li Na in the quarterfinals. Serena Williams defended Venus' honor in the semis, knocking the Chinese player out in straight sets.
Henin, herself a seven-time Grand Slam winner, quit professional tennis after the 2008 Australian Open while still holding the No. 1 ranking. She announced last fall she would rejoin the sport.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Connecticut
Posted Saturday, Jan 30, 2010 - 6:17 AM EST
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