Justine Henin embracing the 'perfect challenge' posed by Serena

JUSTINE Henin has described her run to the final of the Australian Open as "more than a dream" as she aims to win a Grand Slam less than a month after returning from retirement.

The 27-year-old Belgian is playing just her second tournament after calling an end to her 20-month retirement earlier this month. Her return has been remarkable as she reached the final in Brisbane in her first event back before being handed a wild-card entry to the season-opening Grand Slam.

Without a seeding the seven-time major winner has had to progress through the draw the hard way but has still come through with flying colours to eliminate the likes of world No5 Elena Dementieva, Yanina Wickmayer (16) and Nadia Petrova (19).

Her most difficult task looms, however, in today's showpiece when she must overcome the defending champion and world No1 Serena Williams to complete a dream return.

"It's a special occasion, but I see it as an opportunity to play the number one player in the world in a Grand Slam final," she said. "It's more than a dream for me. It's a perfect challenge and I love this kind of situation. I think it's going be a mental battle – the one who will want it more will win probably. She has served great in the last few matches, always on the important points. I know I'll have to be aggressive generally and use my qualities. And of course I have the determination and the ambition."

Remarkably it will be the first time Henin and Williams have met in a Grand Slam final despite sharing 18 major titles between them.

Williams leads their head-to-head record 7-6 and won their most recent meeting 6-2, 6-0 in Miami just before Henin announced her shock retirement.

The Belgian does, however, hold the upper hand in Grand Slams having won their previous three meetings – all of which came in 2007 and at the quarter-final stages of the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

"We had great battles in the past," Henin added. "We played our best tennis when we played each other. At the beginning it was quite difficult for me to face Serena. Then slowly but surely I could change it a little more although the last time we played each other wasn't really good memories in Miami. What I hope is we are going to be at a very good level, both of us, so we can produce good tennis and the best will win."

Williams will be bidding to claim the doubles and singles crowns at Melbourne Park for the second year running.

The 28-year-old defended her doubles title alongside her sister Venus yesterday with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Cara Black and Liezel Huber. Williams' doubles commitments have made for a packed schedule and, after spending more than two hours on court to beat semi-final opponent Li Na 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/1) on Thursday, she played her semi-final in the doubles on Thursday night and final yesterday.

By contrast Henin took only 51 minutes to breeze past Zheng Jie in her semi-finals, but Williams does not think her extra workload will cost her today's final.

"I don't think it (the doubles) has flattened me. I think it's helped me," she said. "I get a lot of extra practice. I think I've spent a lot of time on the court but I like being out there. I'm a little bit bummed out that the doubles is over. I'm getting geared up. I feel like I have one more match to go and that's it, I'm done, the tournament is over."

Williams will draw level with fellow American Billie Jean King's major record of 12 titles if she wins today.