Justine Henin-Hardenne hopes her debut triumph at the Hastings Direct International Championships will help her live up to expectations and lift the Wimbledon title for the first time.

Henin-Hardenne created history when she emulated Martina Navratlova and Chris Evert's feats of winning the French Open and Eastbourne back-to-back with a 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-5) victory against Anastasia Myskina at Devonshire Park.

It made her the form horse galloping into Wimbledon which begins for her against Meng Yuan, from China, today.

But ask the world No. 3 if her second grasscourt crown was a prelude to completing a successive title hat-trick and she is circumspect.

Henin-Hardenne presumes nothing. The Belgian celebrated victory in Paris by sky-diving yet refused to even discuss what she would do should she win the greatest women's title of all for the first time in a fortnight.

Her caution is understandable as she went out in the first round to Eleni Daniilidou at the All England Club 12 months ago after skipping her scheduled first appearance at the Sussex warm-up through injury.

She said: "I had a wonderful week and will be back next year for sure, if I'm healthy.

"There were so many good things. I needed games on grass and found parts of my game I could improve. It was a great tournament because it was well organised and made you relaxed. The courts were perfect. It was the best preparation (for Wimbledon) I could dream of. It gave me confidence.

"But a Grand Slam is another type of tournament, another kind of pressure. Let me take it step by step. Don't be hard on me. I have to win seven matches and be at 200 per cent all the time.

"Right now 128 players want the same thing at Wimbledon. They want to win their next match. The most important thing for me is to focus on mine. I don't want to look too far forward."

She will face an unfamiliar opponent in Meng Yuan, world-ranked 99.

Henin-Hardenne, 24, said: "I don't know her at all. My coach was getting something ready for the match.

"I was tired after my Eastbourne final. It was a day after a tough semi-final against Kim (Clijsters).

"Last year I shouldn't have played Wimbledon. I wasn't in good shape (hamstring and tendinitis problems). If you don't have a chance to go to the end of the tournament it is better to stay at home."

The troubles encountered due to the wind earlier in the week were forgotten as Henin-Hardenne sealed her win against 2004 French Open champion Myskina, back to her best after two years of erratic form.

It was an absorbing rather than dramatic baseline battle in front of a hushed, respectful crowd of 5,000 on Centre Court.

Myskina's powerful groundstrokes, most notably off the backhand, helped gain her a set lead.

Henin-Hardenne switched up a gear, found rhythm on her serve and wrested the initiative to level in a blink-and-you-miss-it second set.

Myskina, with a reputation for being mentally flakey on court, remained strong, standing toe-to-toe with her waif-like but iron-willed opponent. She even saved three match points to force the tie-break.

French-speaking Henin-Hardenne gained two more and took the second after two hours, clenched her fist and shouted "allez' before collecting the trophy and a $95,500 cheque.

She said: "I didn't play well at the beginning. I was too defensive. I completely changed and went forward. Anastasia played a great match. She's back to her best level."

Myskina, the world 11, revealed she had suffered on and off court with her form and mother's illness.

The 24-year-old Russian, runner-up for the second time, said: "Something happened in my tennis and in my life and I couldn't handle it but I've worked hard and my mum is okay. I played really good at Eastbourne. I can compete with any of the girls at Wimbledon if I play like that."

As Henin-Hardenne said hello to Eastbourne, a legend said goodbye. Navratilova, with Liezel Huber, lost the doubles final 6-2 6-4 to Amelie Maursemo and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Then the 11-time singles champion announced it would be her last appearance at an event which helped launch her glittering career more than 30 years ago.

Then she was presented with the freedom of Eastbourne and told the privilege would allow her to graze sheep on Beachy Head.

"Perhaps I can train my dogs to help do the grazing," joked Navratilova, 50 in October.