Eastbourne win for Henin-Hardenne

Henin-Hardenne has been in fine form all week

Justine Henin-Hardenne snatched the Hastings Direct Championship in Eastbourne on a final-set tie-break.

The French Open champion, seeded three, beat Russian fifth seed Anastasia Myskina 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-5).

Henin-Hardenne said: "Anastasia never gives up and she's a real fighter. It's a question of nerves in the tie-break.

"It wasn't easy to come from the clay to play on the grass just a week after my win at the French Open. Now I'm focused on Wimbledon."

Highlights: Highlights: Henin v Myskina

Interview: Justine Henin-Hardenne

Henin-Hardenne started well, breaking Myskina in the third game.

But the Russian broke back for 4-4 and broke again in the 10th game to seal the set as the two players engaged in a power-hitting battle from the baseline.

Myskina double-faulted to give away a break in the opening game of the second set and was broken again to love in the third.

There was no coming back from that deficit, which meant a deciding third set.

Each player broke twice and Henin-Hardenne held three match points as Myskina served at 4-5.

The Belgian was unable to take any of them, but she had two more chances in the deciding tie-break and finally took victory at the fifth time of asking.

"I tried my best but Justine's a great player," said Myskina.

"I'm really happy to have been in the final. It's good preparation for Wimbledon."

Martina Navratilova, four months short of her 50th birthday, was unable to claim her 177th WTA Tour doubles title.

She and 29-year-old South African Liezel Huber lost 6-2 6-4 in the final to world number one singles player Amelie Mauresmo and Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova.

However, Navratilova was presented with the freedom of the town - which entitles her to graze her sheep on the land - and promised fans she would see them again next year.