American Serena Williams embraces the champion’s trophy after defeating Belgium’s Justin Henin in the women’s singles final at the Australian Open in Melbourne. (Reuters)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A broad smile spread across Justine Henin’s face when she walked onto center court Saturday and the thunderous applause of 15,000 people swept over her.

Henin had forgotten what it felt like to be in a Grand Slam final, and she allowed herself to take it all in. Perhaps, that was a mistake.

“It was emotional, of course. I was feeling nervous, of course.

But it was great,” Henin said. “It was a bit harder after that.

But at that moment, it was a very nice moment.”

The storybook comeback of Henin's return to tennis after a 20-month retirement did not end with her winning the Australian Open. Not this year at least. Nor, could she match the feat of fellow Belgian and longtime rival Kim Clijsters, who won the US Open after her return from a two-year leave to get married and have a baby.

Defending champion Serena Williams ended Henin’s journey with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win in the final that both players had rightly predicted beforehand would be as much a mental battle as a physical one.

Despite winning seven Grand Slam titles, Henin has always struggled with self-confidence. Her swift return over the past two weeks to the upper echelon of women's tennis surprised her but she was strict with herself about keeping her emotions in check.

“Overall, I think I managed my emotions more or less well,” said the 27-year-old Henin.

“Except for tonight when it was more difficult.”

“I wanted to win so much. The desire was there, and the motivation too. But maybe there was a small lack of confidence and that was what put the breaks on me tonight,” said Henin, who has won 41 career titles, including the Australian Open in 2003, the French Open four times and the US Open twice.

Henin, who held the No. 1 ranking on-and-off for 117 weeks, was not at the top of her game Saturday but she fought hard.

Her amazing speed and gorgeous groundstrokes had the packed Rod Laver Arena heaving collective gasps at times.

“I felt like we were both out there trying to prove something,” Williams said. “I think we both did it at the end of the day.”

It was the first time in the long and intense rivalry between Williams and Henin that the two played a Grand Slam final.