New York: Maria Sharapova insists she's more about substance than style, and now she has a second Grand Slam title to prove it. Her strokes as piercing as her shrieks by the end, the third-seeded Sharapova beat No. 2 Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday night to win the U.S. Open final.

Sharapova burst onto the tennis — and endorsement — scene by winning Wimbledon in 2004 at age 17. She'd come close to adding more major championships since but went 0-5 in Slam semifinals — until this tournament.

Any other teen

When Henin-Hardenne, a finalist at all four majors this year, slapped one last forehand into the net, Sharapova dropped to her knees and covered her face, then rose and trotted to shake hands. Then Sharapova hopped up and down, looking for the first time all night like any other teen.

She climbed into the stands, losing her way briefly until being helped by an usher, for hugs with her father and her hitting partner, who've been sending her signals during matches about when to drink water or eat bananas.

But Sharapova needed very little help on court against Henin-Hardenne, a five-time major champion who would have returned to No. 1 in the rankings with a victory.

In contrast to Henin-Hardenne, in more traditional tennis attire topped by a white ballcap, Sharapova wore her night-match getup, a black, cocktail dress-type number replete with a sparkled collar, accessorised with silver shoes and dangling earrings. Sharapova says the look is inspired by Breakfast at Tiffany's, but the guess here is Audrey Hepburn never had a sponsor's swoosh on her outfit.

Sharapova won the coin toss and elected to receive, and then went out and stood right at the baseline while Henin-Hardenne hit practice serves at the end of the warmup session. Picture Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter getting to take batting practice against Red Sox starter Curt Schilling — it just doesn't happen in other sports.

Double-faults

Perhaps Sharapova noticed something, because she immediately earned two break points in the match's opening game. Henin-Hardenne saved both, and then broke for a 2-0 edge with the aid of two double-faults by Sharapova.

But Sharapova broke right back — one free point came on a double-fault — and in the process came up with the shot of the evening: a half-volley drop winner to close a 10-stroke exchange.

After her own early loss of serve, Sharapova buckled down in that regard: She didn't face a break point the rest of the match.

Pretty impressive against a player of Henin-Hardenne's calibre. The Belgian entered the night leading all women in matches won (54), Grand Slam matches won (25) and tournament titles (five). Henin-Hardenne finally succumbed to Sharapova's power and relentless shotmaking.

Meanwhile in men's action on Saturday, top-seed and defending champion Roger Federer set up a final meeting with a do-or-die Andy Roddick and a hostile crowd in the final.

Federer as always has history at his doorstep as he compiles one of the greatest careers in world sport. By beating Nikolai Davydenko on Saturday, he got a chance to emulate John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl as the only players to record a hat-trick of U.S. Open wins in the professional era. — Agencies

THE RESULTS

Prefix denotes seedings

Women: Singles: Final: 3-Maria Sharapova (Rus) bt 2-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel) 6-4, 6-4.

Men: Singles: Semifinals: 1-Roger Federer (Sui) bt 7-Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) 6-1, 7-5, 6-4; 9-Andy Roddick (USA) bt Mikhail Youzhny(Rus) 6-7(5), 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-3.

Doubles: Final: 6-Martin Damm (Cze) & Leander Paes (Ind) bt 2-Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) & Max Mirnyi (Blr) 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3.

Mixed doubles: Final: 5-Martina Navratilova & Bob Bryan (USA) bt Kveta Peschke & Martin Damm (Cze) 6-2, 6-3.

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