By Etienne Stekelenburg
March 22 2004

Justine Henin-Hardenne defeats Lindsay Davenport in the Indian Wells final. The Belgian No. 1 of the ranking needs two sets to beat the American former No. 1 in 6-1 6-4. Henin-Hardenne takes her fourth WTA title of the season. Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne started her first Pacific Life final with breaking Davenport’s first service game. In the fourth game Davenport had the chance to break back for 2 all when Henin-Hardenne served three double faults. Davenport could not convert her breakpoint and Henin-Hardenne took advantage and a 3-1 lead.

Henin-Hardenne breaks for 4-1 after Davenport hits a ball long on 30-40. After holding her own service game for 5-1 Henin-Hardenne took the first setpoint when she broke Davenport on 30-40 with a solid winner.

In the first set Henin-Hardenne almost played a perfect match leaving Davenport clueless about what to do to fight herself back in the match. Davenport is mostly beaten by Henin-Hardenne who spreads her backhand shots from left to right.

In the second set Davenport breaks Henin-Hardenne’s first service game. The American also saves a re-break after she missed a smash. Henin-Hardenne miraculously brought back the ball and Davenport returns the ball long. The Davenport’s ace came just in time to hold her serve for 2-0.

"I moved well and stayed calm in the second set when I was down," Henin-Hardenne said about losing her servicegame.

With using her ferocious backhand shots Justine Henin-Hardenne managed to break Davenport for 3 all in games. She stepped up her game pace a little and took a 4-3 lead. After Davenport had tied for 4 all, Henin-Hardenne played a love game for a 5-4 lead.

Davenport was serving to stay in the match. She was 15-30 behind after Henin-Hardenne played a defending lob. The ball was in and unreachable for the American. Davenport used her serve to come back to 40-30 but served a double fault for deuce.

Henin-Hardenne got her first matchpoint when she again tricked Davenport with a backhand dropshot. Davenport hits a good serve which Henin-Hardenne cant return, deuce.

Henin-Hardenne needs five matchpoints to finally win the match using her backhand shots and dropshots. All the time Davenport was able to come back to deuce after hitting a good unreachable serve. Henin-Hardenne took the victory hitting a forehand winner on her fifth matchpoint, winning her fourth title of the season 6-1 6-4.

“It was tougher than I expected, her second serve was coming in pretty hot and it was hard to get a hit on those." Davenport said about Henin-Hardenne game.

"There are only a few players that can play me the way she did." she added.