Justine Henin-Hardenne has hailed her Eastbourne debut as the perfect warm-up for Wimbledon.

The French Open champion faces Russian fifth seed Anastasia Myskina in the final of the Hastings Direct Championships today following a three-set victory over fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters in the semi-finals.

Henin-Hardenne, Wimbledon runner-up to Venus Williams in 2001, said: "It's going to be my fourth match and that was the goal before coming here.

"Every time I walk on the court I try to win for sure but more than that it's about just getting used to the surface.

"I have improved match by match and now I have a final test before Wimbledon, so it's great for me. That's what I was hoping for."

Myskina, Eastbourne runner-up to Chanda Rubin in 2002, also won in three sets yesterday against fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"It was the best match I've had this year," she said. "I was really aggressive and playing really well. Now I need to play the same, fight for every ball."

Sussex's injury-plagued Wimbledon wild card Martin Lee meets towering Belgian veteran Dick Norman in the first round next week.

Big-serving Norman, 35, is the oldest player on the men's tour and at 6ft 8ins the second tallest.

He has lost in the first round on his last two Wimbledon appearances but beat former No.1 Stefan Edberg in 1995 before losing to Boris Becker in the fourth round.