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 WTA TOUR 2005
Picture Henin-Hardenne lifts the trophy (Getty Images).

JUSTINE REGAINS FRENCH CROWN Click here for post-match reaction
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Justine Henin-Hardenne completed an amazing return from a career-threatening virus by thrashing Mary Pierce to regain the French Open title.

The former world number one, playing in her first Grand Slam since a long lay-off which saw her miss much of the 2004 season, triumphed 6-1 6-1 in a one-sided final at Roland Garros.

While Henin-Hardenne did little wrong, a tearful Pierce made far too many errors to leave the Paris crowd disappointed.

Aiming to repeat her win of 2000, Pierce started a heavy underdog and never threatened to drop that tag.

Henin, who had been left too tired to get out of bed at one stage last year, made a flying start and enjoyed a run of 14 consecutive points to open up an early 3-1 lead.

The 23-year-old was pulling her older opponent of seven years around the court and Pierce must have been wondering what had hit her.

And two double faults from the Frenchwoman in the seventh game allowed Henin, seeded 10 after falling down the rankings due to her lay-off, to take the opening set in just 24 minutes.

Pierce had won just 10 points in the opening set and needed to change something to make an impression.

Some in the crowd must have been hoping that the light rain which had been falling would come to her rescue, but it wasn't to be.

Pierce did force her first break point in the first game of the new set but she missed her chance - and wasn't to get another.

Henin's extra pace on her shots was unsettling Pierce who sent many an effort long or wide.

Her mood was summed up when she offered her racket to a ball boy, suggesting he could do better.

That suggested she didn't believe she could reverse the situation and indeed that was the case.

Henin-Hardenne, who had saved two match points against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round, soon held two match points and although on the first she double faulted, the second saw Pierce net with a backhand to send Henin-Hardenne into raptures.

It was her 24th consecutive win on clay this season and earned her a second French Open crown, two years after she bagged the first.

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