Belgian Kim Clijsters outplays Italy’s Sara Errani in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells
World no. 2 Kim Clijsters of Belgian battled out to win her encounter against the unseeded Italian Sara Errani at the third round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California on Sunday night. Clijsters made a terrific comeback in the match after dropping
the second set, winning the contest 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in one hour and fifty two minutes.
The second seed Belgian exhibited her brilliant class once again at Indian Wells to book a berth in the fourth round of the tournament. Clijsters had an excellent start to the game but had to recover after a slump in the second set to defeat Errani.
It was an overall high serve game, with both players crafting plenty of break opportunities and winning many points on their serves. Although Clijsters delivered 70 percent serve on target, the Belgian splattered away 13 double faults, something very unlikely
from a top seed player. Her generous error count cost her the second set but the Belgian made her way back into the contest to register victory.
Clijsters ignited the opening set in her typical aggressive manner, banging assertive cross-court winners and exerting pressure early on the opponent. She won 18 of 33 serve points in the opening set but gave away five double faults. Errani had a better
serve percentage of 74 in the first set but hardly won 43 per cent total serve points.
The opener was an exciting one as the two contestants registered break points on regularity to keep the contest evenly poised. The Italian had four break chances and she availed merely two of them, while Clijsters stung two serve breaks as well to take the
score to 4-4. The Belgian delivered the hammer blow by breaking Errani’s serve for the third time and winning the opening set 6-4.
The World no.2 dropped her game in the following set, committing plenty of unforced errors, including three expensive double faults. She collected a mere 44 per cent serve points while Errani bagged 62 per cent to take advantage in the second set. The Italian
crafted six break opportunities in the set but converted just three of them, which proved sufficient for clinching the second set at an assertive not of 6-2.
The second seed came charging in the decisive set, winning 75 per cent of her first serve points and three aces. The aggressive Italian cracked a serve break to cut Clijsters’ winning momentum but the second seed Belgian made a strong reply by belting two
serve breaks in the third set to seal victory at 6-4.
Clijsters will face 15th seed Frenchwoman, Marion Bartoli in the next round. Bartoli comprehensively defeated Andrea Petkovic of Germany in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.
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