NEW YORK (Reuters) – Justine Henin confirmed her status at the top of the women's game on Saturday with a US Open singles victory that the player believes could be her most significant triumph.

"This one is maybe the most important one," the 25-year-old Belgian said after securing a seventh grand slam title with an emphatic 6-1 6-3 win over former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"I had a lot of things to prove to myself — not to anyone else, just to myself. And I did it."

Henin ended any debate over who would be the player of the year by adding a second US Open title to the fourth French Open championship she snared in June, crowning a year that began with both a divorce and a reconciliation with her family.

"I'm just feeling happy. And the fact that I have my family back in my life helps a lot," the world number one added.

"They give me a lot of support. I'm feeling in peace with myself and that's a very important feeling for me."

On the court, the 5 foot-5 inch, 126-pound dynamo eliminated Australian Open champion Serena Williams in the quarters, and Wimbledon winner Venus Williams in the semis to emerge as the only player to capture two slams this season.

"I'm really proud. Not being that tall and I can compete and be the best player in the world. Not a lot of people really thought I could do it and that's why I'm really proud of it."

Henin, who climbed into the stands to hug her longtime coach Carlos Rodriguez, said he had a major role in the triumph.

"Carlos has been the only one that told me every day, 'You can do it, you can be the number one player in the world.'

"Not a lot of people thought I could win this Open with the draw I had and I did it. It's amazing for me."

Henin, showing greater power than ever at Flushing Meadows with an improved serve and penetrating groundstrokes off both wings, said winning on the hard courts was also satisfying.

"It's been good for me to win on another surface than clay this year. That proves a lot of things to myself."