S. Williams wins her fifth Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Serena Williams collected her fifth Australian Open title with a three-set victory Saturday over Belgian Justine Henin.

Williams, from the United States, also won the event in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. She has a total of 12 Grand Slam singles championships -- tied for sixth all-time with Billie Jean King -- along with 11 major doubles titles won with her sister Venus. The Williams sisters won the 2010 Australian Open doubles title Friday.

Williams lost only two sets en route to the 2010 singles title, including one Saturday in a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Henin. Williams won a handful more points (90-85) in the tight match in beating Henin for the eighth time in 14 career meetings.

Henin was appearing her second tournament -- she's lost in the finals in both -- since ending a 19-month retirement.

She has shown small signs that her game isn't completely sharp, such as six double faults and failing to convert her first six break-point opportunities Saturday, but was solid enough that she was won the final 10 points of the second set in tying the match and posted a break that in the third left that set tied at 2-2.

But Williams closed with a flurry, winning the final four games. She recorded her fifth break of the match to move ahead, finished off the sixth game with an ace before another service break put her in position to serve out for the title.