Dementieva says Henin back to her best

MELBOURNE: Elena Dementieva said Belgian star Justine Henin had returned to tennis as good as ever after losing an epic second round Australian Open match to the former world No 1 on yesterday.

In a classic encounter that ebbed and flowed throughout and lasted almost three hours, the 27-year-old Henin eventually edged past the Russian fifth seed in two gripping sets, 7-5, 7-6 (8) for her biggest win since returning.

The pair had faced each other 11 times previously, with Henin (pictured) winning all but two of those encounters and Dementieva said the time away from the game had definitely not affected the Belgian's form.