2011 Australian Open: Kim Clijsters dismisses Vera Zvonareva in straight sets
Former world number one and Belgian favourite, Kim Clijsters made it through to the finals on Day 11 after she successfully dismissed second seeded, Vera Zvonareva.
In their tenth meeting on the WTA Tour, Clijsters was able to extend her head to head lead to 7-4, as she dismissed the top Russian in straight sets.
Clijsters won the toss and opted to serve first, though she had her service broken in the first game. Clijsters turned the tables in the next game and broke Zvonareva’s
service to level the score 1-1. Winning games on their service, the pair kept the score tied for the next four games. Leading the score 4-3, Clijsters broke Zvonareva’s service in the eighth game following a deuce and took a 5-3 lead. Capitalizing on Zvonareva’s
errors, Clijsters was able to secure a 6-3 victory in the first set, going 1-0 in the set score.
Determined to make it to the finals, Clijsters took an early lead of 3-1 in the second set breaking Zvonareva’s service in the third game. However, a fighting Zvonareva
was able to bring the score deficit down to 3-4. Clijsters though, wasn’t prepared to allow the Russian much leeway. Winning the eighth game on her service and then breaking Zvonareva’s service in the ninth game, Clijsters was able to secure another 6-3 victory
for herself.
Talking about her match with Zvonareva, Clijsters said, “I tried hard on every point. Vera is a tough player and i have lost to her a few times before. I played well because
I rose to the occasion and used my experience of playing big matches. I haven't always played my best this tournament but I've just tried to play better than my opponent,"
Hitting eighteen winners, including two aces and cashing in on Zvonareva’s twenty one unforced errors, Clijsters was able to secure a straight sets victory for herself in
almost ninety minutes. The number one Belgian lost fifteen of forty nine points (15 of 49) on service as she converted four of seven break points to make it into the final two, where she will play Chinese number one, Li Na.
Just one match away from the title win, Clijsters has never won the Australian Open title, though she did make it to the final in 2004 before losing to compatriot, Justine
Henin.
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