Justine Henin insists she views her Australian Open final against defending champion Serena Williams as "a perfect challenge".
Belgian bracing herself for mental battle with Williams
Justine Henin insists she views her Australian Open final against defending champion Serena Williams as "a perfect challenge" as she looks to add a fairytale ending to a memorable couple of weeks in Melbourne.
The Belgian goes in search of an eighth Grand Slam crown on Saturday just a month after ending her 20-month retirement from the sport.
Her return has been nothing short of remarkable as she reached the final in Brisbane in her first event back before her impressive run at the Australian Open.
Having headed into the tournament without a seeding, the 27-year-old has plotted a tricky path to the final having beaten the likes of world number five Elena Dementieva, Yanina Wickmayer (16) and Nadia Petrova (19) along the way.
However, she realises her biggest test lies ahead with Williams aiming to secure a fifth Australian title.
"It's a special occasion, but I see it as an opportunity to play the number one player in the world in a grand slam final," she said.
"It's more than a dream for me. It's a perfect challenge and I love this kind of situation.
"I think it's going be a mental battle - the one who will want it more will win probably.
"She has served great in the last few matches, always on the important points. I know I'll have to be aggressive generally and use my qualities.
"And of course I have the determination and the ambition."
First Grand Slam final meeting
Interestingly it will be the first time Henin and Williams have locked horns in a Grand Slam final despite the duo sharing 18 major titles between them.
Williams leads their head-to-head record 7-6 and chalked up an emphatic 6-2 6-0 victory in their most recent meeting in Miami just before Henin announced her shock retirement.
The Belgian does, though, hold the upper hand in grand slams having won their previous three meetings - all of which came in 2007 and at the quarter-final stages of the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
"We had great battles in the past," the Belgian continued. "We played our best tennis when we played each other.
"At the beginning it was quite difficult for me to face Serena. Then slowly but surely I could change it a little more although the last time we played each other wasn't really good memories in Miami.
"What I hope is we are going to be at a very good level, both of us, so we can produce good tennis and the best will win."
Serena feeling strong
Having won the doubles title with her sister Venus on Friday, Williams will now be out to claim a double success for the second year running on Saturday.
However, Serena insists that her twin commitments, which have led to a packed schedule, have actually helped her preparations for her final showdown with Henin, rather than hindered them.
"I don't think it (the doubles) has flattened me," the American stated. "I think it's helped me.
"I get a lot of extra practice. I think I've spent a lot of time on the court but I like being out there.
"I'm a little bit bummed out that the doubles is over. I'm getting geared up.
"I feel like I have one more match to go and that's it, I'm done, the tournament is over and I'm off to something new."
Williams will have the extra motivation of drawing level with Billie Jean King's record of 12 Grand Slam triumphs if she is successful and plans to use that as inspiration, adding: "I definitely feel like I am hungry. I have a chance to tie Billie Jean, which would be great."
