Justine Henin-Hardenne threw her racquet in the air and collapsed to her knees in joy after beating Kim Clijsters to win the Australian Open and her third Grand Slam title.

The world number one survived a battling display from Clijsters to win 6-3 4-6 6-3 and add the Daphne Akhurst Trophy to the French Open and US Open titles she won last year.

She beat Clijsters in both those finals but was forced to work harder in this one after twice allowing her long-time rival back into the match.

Clijsters bravely battled from a break down to force a deciding set and then rallied from 0-4 behind to get back on serve.

But a wobbly service game and disputed line-call on break point left Henin-Hardenne the honour of serving for the championship.

"It was very emotional. I thought I couldn't close the match in the second set, in the third set I felt the crowd give support to Kim," Henin-Hardenne said.

"It was really emotional, both of us were really nervous. On the important points I could win and I was feeling just unbelievable.

"I have three Grand Slams now and I have not realised it yet."

Along with her sumptuous backhand, Henin-Hardenne's mental toughness has become the biggest asset to her game.

Born out of personal troubles, having lost her mother and become estranged from her father, Henin-Hardenne has an iron will and unshakeable determination.

So when Clijsters was on the offensive, she still knew the victory was hers for the taking.

"I am not afraid of anyone. Sometimes I am afraid of myself. At this level the mental point is really important," she said.

"I tried to stay focused on every point and start the third set in a positive way. Game after game I was feeling more and more nervous.

"Kim made no mistakes and it was not easy at all. My backhand helped me on the important points.

"I wasn't aggressive when I had to. At the end I served pretty good with two big serves to end the match."

Clijsters said little about the umpire's contentious over-rule at break point on 3-4 in the final set.

She was confident the ball had clipped the line, an argument backed by television replays, but Henin-Hardenne appealed it was out and the umpire over-ruled the line judge to agree.

"It is disappointing and a few people have told me that it was in, so that's even more disappointing," she said.

"But I am not going to blame the umpire or anything because everyone makes mistakes.

"I don't want to start any trouble or anything."

Clijsters was happy to have made it to the final given she was not certain of her fitness just days before the first round after injuring her ankle in Perth.

"First of all I want to congratulate Justine. She played a great final and in the end she was too good, so well done," she said.

"It has been an incredible two weeks for me. I didn't even think I would be able to participate here and although I lost I am so grateful to the people who have made it possible for me to be out here."

If anything could have been read into the pre-match warm-up it was that Clijsters was struggling to find her rhythm, repeatedly firing balls into the net during the knock-up.

With an 0-3 record in previous Grand Slam finals it was perhaps understandable she started jittery, but it allowed Henin-Hardenne, with the crucial experience of victory, to break twice in the first set.

Clijsters began to settle early in the second set and although Henin-Hardenne appeared to have snatched the initiative with a break to move 4-2 ahead, the fist pumps displayed a new determination.

With fiancee Lleyton Hewitt barking encouragement from the crowd, Clijsters began to find her rhythm and struck back immediately to level at 4-4 before executing the set-winning break.

Pumped up and anxious to maintain her momentum, Clijsters was first out for the third set.

But Henin-Hardenne's renowned toughness prevailed in a thrilling, see-saw encounter as first she broke twice to move four games up.

Clijsters threatened a remarkable recovery to break back twice as the nerves affected Henin-Hardenne's fluidity.

But at 3-4 Clijsters sent down successive double-faults and Henin-Hardenne regained the advantage courtesy of that contentious line-call.

The normally-calm Clijsters questioned the call.

"Could you really see it?" she asked.

But the break - the fifth of the final set - had been secured and Henin-Hardenne served a magnificent game to seal the championship.