Justine Henin extended her unbeaten run to 28 matches with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final of the Sydney International on Friday.
The world number one came back after losing the opening set and later trailing 3-0 in the third to capture her 40th career title and enhance her claims as favourite to win the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne next week.
Henin is now unbeaten since her loss to Marion Bartoli in the semi-finals of Wimbledon last year and has won 16 of her 18 clashes with Kuznetsova, including last year's US Open final.
Second-ranked Kuznetsova looked to have the match under control when she broke Henin's serve and held her own to lead 3-0 in the deciding set but managed just one of the next seven games as Henin raised her level.
Kuznetsova, 22, had made a flying start to the match, breaking Henin's second service game. Henin pulled back to four-all but her erratic serve let her down again.
Daniilidou wins title
Greece’s Eleni Daniilidou won the Hobart WTA International on a walkover when Russian second seed Vera Zvonareva pulled out with an ankle injury, reports AFP from Hobart. World number 42 Daniilidou won her fifth WTA title without hitting a shot. Zvonareva rolled her left ankle during practice and after receiving treatment she withdrew from the final.
Baghdatis in final
Marcos Baghdatis set up a final against Andy Roddick at the Kooyong Classic with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Chilean Fernando Gonzalez on Friday, declaring himself ready for a good run at next week's Australian Open, adds Reuters from Melbourne.
The Cypriot, who reached the final at Melbourne Park two years ago, coped admirably with a gusting wind at Kooyong as he tamed the big-hitting Gonzalez.
Guccione in final
Australian Chris Guccione's sparkling run at the Sydney International continued on Friday when he beat Czech Radek Stepanek 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 to reach the final, adds Reuters from Sydney
He will play Dmitry Tursunov in Saturday's decider after the Russian beat Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 6-3, 7-6 at Sydney's Olympic tennis centre.
Ferrero through
Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero advanced to his first Auckland Open final with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over France's Julien Benneteau on Friday, adds Reuters from Wellington. The 2003 French Open champion, who is appearing at the Auckland tournament for the fourth time, will meet seventh seed Philipp Kohlschreiber after the German demolished Juan Monaco of Argentina 6-2, 6-1.