Former world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne said she was growing increasingly confident about her French Open chances after winning the German Open on Sunday.

The Belgian former world number one continued her impressive comeback from illness and injury to win her third successive claycourt title, defeating Russia's [Images] Nadia Petrova 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. "It has been a lot of tennis over the last few weeks, but that is what I needed," said Henin-Hardenne.

The 22-year-old's 17-match winning streak has made her one of the front-runners for the Roland Garros tournament, which begins in Paris on May 23.

But although the Belgian won the title in 2003, she is also mindful of her shock second-round exit in 2004, and first-round exit of 2002.

"The French Open is something very special for me. I did my best there, I did my worst there," she said.

"We'll see what 2005 is going to bring. But I have done a very good job in the last few weeks and I hope I can keep doing that."

Henin-Hardenne cites clay as her favourite surface, as the slower courts give her more time to organise her shots than on hard courts.

Ranked 15th in the world after seven months out through illness and an injury at the start of this season, Henin-Hardenne has won three of the four events she has played since returning to the circuit in March.

"I didn't know exactly what to expect when I came back on the tour. Physically I didn't know how I was going to react."

But Henin-Hardenne added she was getting better every week.

"I had a lot of trouble in my first matches here. At that point I didn't think I was going to win here in Berlin."

The Belgian was taken to three sets in the first three rounds, but said she stayed positive and fought for every point.

Later in the week she beat top seed Maria Sharapova [Images] in straight sets and dropped just one game in her semi-final with Switzerland's [Images] Patty Schnyder.

Henin-Hardenne's 17-match winning streak matches that of Belgium's other former world number one Kim Clijsters [Images], who also recently returned to the circuit after a career-threatening wrist injury.

But Clijsters' s appearance at the French Open is in doubt after she strained a ligament in her knee in Berlin on Thursday.

She will be out of action for at least two weeks and will be unable to take risks in her game if she does enter the Grand Slam, according to a statement on her website.

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