World number one and defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne won her third title of the year on Saturday with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Russian teenager Svetlana Kuznetsova [ Images ] in the final of the Dubai [ Images ] Open.

Henin-Hardenne added to her victories in Sydney [ Images ] and at the Australian Open [ Images ] with the win, though it was an awkward match for the Belgian, who was unable to dominate the 85-minute baseline battle at any stage.

"I'm very happy to defend my title, especially because last week I wasn't feeling well and I wasn't sure I could be 100 percent," said the Henin-Hardenne, who won $93,000.

"I knew it was going to be tough because Svetlana played great tennis this week, and I knew I had to fight a lot."

Henin-Hardenne took an early lead, breaking for 2-1 and dropping only three points in her first four service games.

She then failed to serve out the set at 5-4, double faulting and making three backhand errors to allow her 18-year-old opponent to level before winning the tiebreak 7-3.

Kuznetsova, who beat former world number one Venus Williams [ Images ] and two other seeds on the way to the final, lacked aggression in the first set and attacked more in the second.

Henin-Hardenne was able to respond, with her returns forcing several errors from Kuznetsova, which led to a service break for a 2-0 lead but the Russian refused to buckle.

She broke back in the fifth game before a clumsy forehand allowed the Belgian to break again to lead 5-3 and then serve out for the match.

Kuznetsova said that nerves had affected her performance during the first set.

"It was the final and I was a little bit tight inside," said Kuznetsova. "I wasn't at my best today, and to beat Justine the way she plays now I have to be at the top of my game.

"I was trying to relax and do the things I can do, but she didn't allow me to play the way I wanted to."

Kuznetsova admitted that she took a more cautious approach because she was afraid of making errors.

"I didn't want to do many unforced errors, and that's maybe why I wasn't so aggressive."

"Maybe that was my mistake and I didn't choose the tactic I had to. I was still trying to attack sometimes, but she plays the ball with a lot of spin and made me stay back."