2011 Australian Open Preview: Kim Clijsters vs Vera Zvonareva
2008 Australian Open finalist and a favourite for a title win this week, Belgian Kim Clijsters made it to the final four where she meets long time rival, top Russian Vera
Zvonareva on Day 11 of the Australian Open.
Ranked third in world, Clijsters is putting in her ninth appearance at Melbourne Park with her career best coming in 2004 when she made it all the way to the finals but
lost to champion and compatriot, Justine Henin. Coming back from retirement, Clijsters 2010 run at the event was halted in the third round by Nadia Petrova.
However, her quarterfinal run at Wimbledon, a title win at the United States Open and the WTA Year End Championship ensured her ranking in the world. A former world number
one, Clijsters wishes to return to the top this year. Kicking off the year with a final run, Clijsters made it all the way to the finals of the Sydney event but lost to champion, Li Na.
Clijsters started her 2011 run at Melbourne Park without breaking a sweat. Enjoying twin bagel set wins, Clijsters moved past Dinara Safina in their opening clash. She continued
to enjoy straight sets victories at every step moving past Carla Navarro, Alize Cornet and Ekaterina Makarova to setup a quarterfinal clash with Agnieszka Radwanska. Moving past the Pole in straight sets, Clijsters secured a berth for herself in the final
four.
The Belgian is the only player in the final four beside Li to enjoy a no set loss record so far in the event. As she makes her way to the semis, Clijsters records a loss
of thirty games on ten sets.
Meeting Clijsters in the semi-final is second seeded Zvonareva. Coming into their tenth meeting on the WTA Tour, Clijsters currently leads the head to head score 6-3. The
pair’s last Grand Slam meeting came in the final match of the 2010 United States Open, where the Belgian got the better of the Russian to clinch her third Grand Slam title. Although Clijsters leads the head to head for hard courts 4-2, Zvonareva won the three
of four meetings in 2010.
Talking about playing Zvonareva, Clijsters said, "There are some tough players out there and Vera is one of them so it's going to be tough. She’s playing really good so
I'm going to have to play a lot better, I look forward to it."
The number one Russian returned to Melbourne Park last year for her ninth straight performance. Her career best at the event came in 2009 when she made it all the way to
semi-final before losing to Safina. Her 2010 run at the event was stopped short at the fourth round by Victoria Azarenka.
Determined to make it past the semi-final round this year, Zvonareva moves into the semis with a loss of thirty games in eleven sets.
Prediction: Given her recent form, Clijsters is clearly the favourite to win the semi-final match. Also enjoying the statistical c*m psychological advantage
doesn’t hurt her chances. However, it should be noted that Zvonareva has defeated the Belgian before and she might be able to do so again.
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