Henin did not drop a set as she followed up her French Open triumph earlier in the year with her second grand slam of the season, defeating both Williams sisters along the way and exorcising the memory of her Wimbledon disappointment when she fell apart in a semi-final upset to Marion Bartoli.

“It’s great,” the 25-year-old said.

“This one is maybe the most important one, the quality I’ve played in the last couple of weeks has been amazing and it’s just a great feeling because I had a tough draw.

“I had a lot of things to prove myself, not to anyone else, and I did it.

“I’ve been so consistent for two weeks, so calm and so relaxed and it’s been great.

“I didn’t lose a set in Toronto or here in two weeks and it’s just great and I’m really proud of it.”

The Belgian was in control from the start, breaking Kuznetsova’s serve in the opening game of the match and repeating the feat in the third to take a 3-0 lead.

The Russian finally got off the mark when she held serve in the fifth game but it proved a momentary respite as Henin won the next two to wrap up the set in 33 minutes.

Kuznetsova showed more fight at the start of the second set, although a number of unforced errors continued to hamper her efforts.

And the fourth game proved decisive as the 22-year-old had chances to level the set only to squander them with some sloppy strokes.

Henin made the most of the reprieve, breaking the fourth seed’s serve after the seventh deuce of the game to move into a 3-1 lead.

Kuznetsova won her service game to love to save the match at 5-2 but Henin closed out the match despite some nervous moments towards the end.

“I’ve been consistent,” Henin added.

“I played really well on the important points and I took control from the beginning of the match.

“I never stopped being aggressive and took the opportunities on her serve and she made mistakes.

“I was nervous in the last game, so close to winning the Open but the way I finished the match proved I wanted it so much.

“I was the best on the court and that’s it.”

Kuznetsova, meanwhile, admitted a below-par performance was to blame for her defeat.

“I didn’t play my best game so that’s why I lost,” she said.

“With these players you just have so few opportunities.

“If you don’t use them there’s no way I’m going to win.

“I had so many of them. I felt I just didn’t move to the ball well enough because I was pretty tight.”

Nevertheless, the Russian still found the loss hard to take.

“It’s very tough,” Kuznetsova added.

“I think the match was much closer than the score for sure.

“I’ve said it before but Justine’s number one. When she plays her best game I have to play my best game.

“So I think I’ve got to learn a lot from this final and just improve.”

Henin celebrated by clambering through the crowd and up to the players’ guest box where she embraced her coach Carlos Rodriguez.

“It’s a big day for Carlos and I,” she said.

“Just the two of us really know how hard it’s been the last year.

“It’s been tough and he gave me unbelievable support. He was just there for me, he and his family, and we just kept fighting together.

“He knew I really needed it at that time and he never stopped pushing me. He’s been hard with me also but he had a big role for sure.

“It’s been a great year for both of us and that’s why I want to go and see him in the stand. I was glad that I got to go and hug him at the end. That was important to me.”