Justine Henin began the US Open championship explaining why it was not one of her favourite tournaments.

She was the woman, however, who stuck around the longest and profited the most as she collected £700,000 for winning the final grand slam of 2007.

''It's not my favourite Grand Slam,'' Henin admitted after her first round win over German qualifier Julia Goerges.

''It's so, so different. You need to get used to it. There are places where you feel a little bit better.''

If Henin can feel any better than she did at Arthur Ashe Stadium following her 6-1 6-3 final victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova then the 25-year-old Belgian is a very lucky woman indeed.

''Tonight I love New York,'' she said before adding with a laugh, ''but sometimes I hate New York.

''No, New York takes a lot of energy. It's probably the hardest grand slam to win because it's a crazy city, it's a big show over here.

''I wasn't used to it, it's not in my personality, but I started to really enjoy every moment of it this year. It was a great atmosphere and it's going to be a very good souvenir for me.

''It's different and that's good; four different grand slams in four different atmospheres, I love the four of them.

''This one is probably not my favourite but today I love it a little bit more than last year at the same time.''

Twelve months ago Henin had just lost the final to Maria Sharapova and her personal life was at a crossroads.

A separation from her husband followed and by the start of 2007, she declared that she was Justine Henin Hardenne no longer, simply Ms Henin.

She was also losing her world No 1 ranking, but the emotionally bruised player decided to get her life and game back on track at the start of the year.

So while her peers were at the Australian Open, she was getting divorced from Pierre-Yves Hardenne and reunited with her father and siblings after an estrangement. On the court she has re-emerged fitter, stronger, less introverted.

For that she credits her long-time coach Carlos Rodriguez and together they have taken her back to the world No 1 ranking, collecting the French Open title in June before the triumph in New York, her seventh career slam, which also includes the 2003 US Open.

By the time she had regained the trophy, she had already waded through the crowds and clambered up to the players' guest box to embrace Rodriguez.

When she was reminded that her height and slight frame put her at a disadvantage against the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, both of whom she beat, Henin replied: ''I'm really proud not being that tall and I can compete and be the best player in the world like that.

''Not a lot of people really thought I could do it and that's why I'm really proud of it."