AUSTRALIAN OPEN FINAL - S Williams v Henin
**Venue: Melbourne Park ** Date/time: 0830 GMT, Sat 30 January
BBC coverage:](http://www.paklinks.com/sport2/low/tennis/6102132.stm)Live on BBC Red Button, BBC Sport website, BBC 5 live Sports Extra
**Justine Henin and Serena Williams are preparing to resume a fierce rivalry in Saturday’s Australian Open final.**Williams edged the head-to-head 7-6 before Henin took two years out of the game, reaching the Melbourne final in only her second tournament back.
“I definitely think of her as a rival. We bring out the best game in each other,” said world number one and four-time Australian Open champion Williams.
“We both just play our hearts out. That’s what creates a good rivalry.”
None of their 13 meetings were in a Grand Slam final, although the Belgian knocked her American rival out in the quarter-finals of three Grand Slams in 2007.
A Henin victory on Sunday would be a remarkable story, especially considering her fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters’ stunning win at the US Open shortly after she also came out of retirement.
But the 27-year-old, who needed a wildcard to enter the tournament, will start as underdog against the top seed and defending champion.
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“Henin-Serena: a dream final”
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“It’s my first Grand Slam since I’m back, and we’re already there, so it’s more than a dream,” she said after a crushing 6-1 6-0 win over Zheng Jie in the semi-final.
"I’m so happy to play against her [Williams] because if I want to win another Grand Slam, I’ll have to beat the best player of the world, and that’s just the biggest challenge I could get.
“I have to be honest, I didn’t really expect that, but now that’s a reality, I will try to be at my best.”
Williams, though, has not been at her best in her last two matches, recovering from a set and 4-0 down to beat Victoria Azarenka before a scrappy win over Li Na in the semi-finals.
“Justine is playing really well. She’s doing great. I hope to serve well. But regardless, I’ll have to do other things well, too,” she said.
Henin, who won the Australian Open in 2004, has admitted to feeling the effects of such a busy schedule so soon after her return, but after an easy semi-final win, the Belgian is confident she will be fresh for the final.
“I’ve been playing a lot of tough matches in the last two weeks so that [semi-final] was the best to recover,” she said.
“I’m very excited about what’s going to come up for me and can’t wait for it now.”