Defending champion Justine Henin was forced to recover from a break down in the final set to win the Eastbourne International title beating Amelie Mauresmo 7-5 6-7 7-6 in just over two and a half hours.

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• Comfortable draw for top seeds

Mauresmo, the defending Wimbledon champion, got off to a flying start breaking in the fourth game on her way to an early 4-1 lead.

But Henin, who like Mauresmo cruised through the draw without dropping a set, found her feet and broke back to level things up before taking the lead with another break blasting a ferocious forehand straight down the line.

But the second seed was not ready to let the second set go and broke back to level up once again before immediately dropping serve as both players struggled with rhythm.

At the second attempt Henin made no mistake sealing the first set with an ace albeit after wasting two previous opportunities.

The world number one, clearly sensing her chance then struck early in the second set setting up breaking point in the third game, with a scorching forehand service return down the line, which she duly took.

Henin looked to be cruising towards victory seemingly very comfortable as her week-long impressive form continued but Mauresmo suddenly jumped back into life breaking with a huge cross court forehand before leaping onto the resulting smash.

With little to separate the two players it was little surprise that the second set was pushed all the way to the tiebreak with Mauresmo levelling at one set apiece 7-4 in the breaker.

Again the early stages of the third set saw the two women, who also contested the 2006 Australian Open and Wimbledon finals, very evenly matched.

Just like the first set, it was the Frenchwoman who struck first breaking, this time in the fifth game, before holding to put herself within touching distance of victory.

But Henin is nothing if not determined and snatched the opportunity to break back in the 10th game with a fairly simple forehand passing shot to level at 5-5.

Henin held on forcing Mauresmo to hold in order to stay in the match, which, to her credit, the 27-year-old did firing down an ace to force the tiebreak.

But the diminutive Belgian had it all her own way in the breaker racing out to a 4-0 lead before setting up four match point with another service winner.

Just one was needed, however, as Mauresmo put her backhand approach shot into the net allowing Wimbledon-favourite Henin to win her second title in the seaside town in as many years.

- Pippa Davis -