Justine Henin-Hardenne swept to the French Open title, thrashing an out-of-sorts Kim Clijsters in the final.
The all-Belgian showdown did not live up to its pre-match billing, with the 21-year-old racing to her first Grand Slam crown - also her country's first ever - with a 6-0 6-4 victory.
Clijsters looked fazed by the occasion as her compatriot emerged a deserved winner, blasting winners from the back of the court and showing fine touch whenever she ventured to the net.
Clijsters was made to pay for missing several break points early in the match.
In both of Henin-Hardenne's opening two service games, Clijsters moved to 0-40 but was unable to break.
In contrast, the fourth seed took both of her opportunites on the Clijsters serve to race into a 4-0 lead.
That set the tone for the match and Clijsters was left with a mountain to climb when she dropped the opening set in just 26 minutes.
With all the winners coming from Henin-Hardenne - she would end with 26 to Clijsters' nine - Clijsters bravely managed to retrieve an early break in the second set.
She levelled at 4-4, but just when it looked as if the crowd - which included the King and Queen of Belgium - would have a match on their hands, Clijsters capitulated again.
She immediately lost her serve, leaving Henin-Hardenne to serve for the match - and she did not disappoint, sealing victory after 67 minutes when a Clijsters forehand hit the net cord and dropped back on her own side.
Henin-Hardenne dedicated her first ever grand slam victory to the memory of her late mother,
who died when she was just 13.
"I want to dedicate this win to my mum who has been taking care of me from
heaven," she said after lifting the trophy.
"I hope that you are very proud of me, mum."
She added: "I feel very special emotions, it is hard to describe. I had never imagined how it could be to win
a Grand Slam, especially here at Roland Garros.
"I am so happy, I can't tell you how happy I am. This is like a dream come
true."
Meanwhile, Clijsters praised her friend for the way she played.
"She didn't give me anything for free," she said.
"Even though I lost the first set, that doesn't mean anything, I just had to keep fighting and that's what I did.
"I wasn't anywhere close to playing my best tennis today, so of course I'm disappointed, but I hope to get another chance and do better then."
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