Berlin: Second-seeded Nadia Petrova won her third straight clay-court title on Sunday, beating third-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the German Open final.
The Russian, who ran her clay-court winning streak to 15 matches, fought back and leg injuries in a match lasting nearly three hours at the key tuneup for the French Open, which starts May 28.
Henin-Hardenne missed a backhand down the line on match point and Petrova ran to hug her coach.
"It's a great feeling," Petrova said. "Hopefully, I can get to the top -- that is a big dream of mine."
Petrova also won at Charleston, South Carolina, and at Amelia Island, Florida, last month. She had won only one event before this year.
Petrova reversed a three-set loss from Henin-Hardenne winning her third German Open title last year.
Sunday was the Belgian's first defeat at the event since losing to Jennifer Capriati in 2001.
Her German Open record is 24-2.
Petrova paid for constantly attacking the net in the first set with Henin-Hardenne hitting numerous passing shots.
But the Russian began to apply more pressure in the second, pounding the ball deep in the corner to set up her rushes to the net.
"I don't know what to say. My legs were tired, my back began to hurt in the second set and I had problems serving," Petrova said. "All I could do is fight."
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