Justine Henin retained her Eastbourne title and avenged her 2006 Wimbledon final defeat by Amelie Mauresmo in an epic three-set struggle lasting two hours and 36 minutes on a windswept Devonshire Park Centre Court.

Henin won 7-5 6-7 7-6 and after looking set to cruise home at a set and 4-2 up had to defy a storming comeback by the Frenchwoman who took time to find her touch in the testing conditions.

Mauresmo, the world number four who was a set down to the Belgian star before winning at SW19 a year ago, took the second-set tie-break 7-4 with comparative ease and when she broke through in the third set for a 3-2 lead appeared to have proceedings in her grasp.

But Henin, ever the fighter, stayed firm and gradually turned the situation back in her favour, always going for her shots and getting on top early in the second shoot-out which she won 7-2.

She warned her army of fans not too read too much into the victory, though.

The Belgian admitted: "The weather was terrible. It was the biggest opponent for both of us."

She added: "Amelie did not get tired because of the match. She got tired because of the windy conditions. It was frustrating for me, too."

But despite some power and touch in her all-court game, Mauresmo had to surrender to her Belgian rival's familiar brand of fighting spirit.

In the end it was down to who played better on the big shots and who was prepared to trust their ability the most on a grass surface they experience just a few weeks a year.

Henin, who this year has come through a bitter divorce, a bad bout of asthma and, more positively, an emotional reunion with members of her family including her father, said: "For the first time in my life I feel very happy.

"I have been through an emotional time when it was difficult to keep control but at a certain time I knew I had to move forward and when I came back to the courts (after missing the Australian Open) I was ready.

"Now I am focused on Wimbledon but winning it finally is not everything in my life. The important thing is to ensure I stay at my top level and stay healthy."

Mauresmo admitted: "She played well in key moments and some of these I can do with being a little bit better.

"But in terms of missed volleys and sometimes with my serve I know I can erase them next week and then I'll know I will be pretty clear to being back to my best level.

"Unfortunately it was the worst conditions of the week here. The match was up and down in quality I thought but in the end still a good match.

"I didn't get enough first serves in and there were a few more volleys I missed but I've found my rhythm again on court after a break following the French and I'm definitely up for it (Wimbledon) next week."