Henin joins clay royalty with fourth Paris title

By Bill Scott Jun 10, 2007, 14:27 GMT

Belgium\'s Justine Henin celebrates her victory with the Roland Garros Cup in front of the Arc de Triumph , Paris, France, 09 June 2007. Henin beat Serb Ana Ivanovic winning 6-1 6-2 and retains the French Open 2007 for the third time in a row. EPA/PIERRE ALAIN

Paris - Four French Open titles in five years has earned Justine Henin the right to call herself the 'Queen of Clay.'

'That's good, I like it,' the Belgian said her the label after lifting the trophy with the loss of just three games against Serb Ana Ivanovic at the weekend.

'It's amazing. When I was a little girl and dreaming of coming here and playing the tournament and winning it... doing it four times, and three times in a row, and two times without losing a set... I think it's, it's just great.'

The 25-year-old number one will have just this week off before preparing for the grass season by playing Eastbourne prior to Wimbledon.

With the All England club title the only major missing from her collection of six, Henin will surely go all out after losing the 2006 final to Amelie Mauresmo.

But in the Belgian's mind, there is no place more special then Roland Garros.

'It's like my garden, I just feel home over here,' she said. 'I always walk on the court with the goal to give my best and be ready for a tough fight.'

Henin said that she had a rough first week and only lifted after a heart-to-heart talk last weekend with her coach of 11 years Carlos Rodriguez.

'When you arrive in the Grand Slams, it's long. When you look seven matches, pretty tough names on the road, and you have to build something day after day, and I did.

'I confess, during the first week, I didn't feel perfectly fit,' said a player whose runs of brilliance have frequently been interrupted by injury and illness.

'I managed things very well, but I needed to think about things. And the discussion I had on Sunday evening helped me to start a new tournament in the second week,' she said.

'And from then on, I had no doubts anymore.'

Henin won the title in front of her family, with whom she has reconciled after years of estrangement.

And her positive state of mind is reflected on and off the court. 'Everything that happens in my life is wonderful right now. And if I can be rewarded on the court, then it's a great moment for my career and for my life.'