Defending champion, Kim Clijsters, ousts Daniela Hantuchova in the third round – Australian Open 2012
Defending champion, Kim Clijsters, shines at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne, Australia, during the third round contest of the Australian Open tournament against the one of the prettiest tennis lady from Slovakia, Daniela Hantuchova.
She defeated the Slovak in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 and eased herself into the fourth round of the tournament.
Both age fellows have contested against one another for 12 times in their professional career and the Belgian holds a mammoth head-to-head lead of 11-1 with this triumph. It was interesting to see that both these players squared
off after five years in the Brisbane International tournament earlier this month and Hantuchova registered her first win over the reigning Australian Open champion, Clijsters.
Unfortunately, it was not a comprehensive triumph as her opponent was leading one set at the stage when she had to pull out of the competition due to her chronic injury. The Belgian didn’t waste this opportunity to create a mark
against her opponent and clear any doubts about her health. She made it crystal clear to everyone that she was there to defend her title. She completely ousted her opponent and gave the message that anyone that comes in her way will face the worst nightmare
of her career.
Clijsters started the things slowly but picked up the momentum as the games passed by. She broke serve in the sixth game to take two games lead as the scores pushed to 4-2 in her favour. Both players exchanged breaks in the next
two games that were good enough to retain the lead of the Belgian. She served for the set and comprehensively accomplished her task with two thumping aces across the court.
The Belgian started the second set in classic fashion, breaking her opponent’s serve and taking an initial two games lead. She broke serve in the fifth game to double the lead but her opponent was replied in quick succession; breaking
Clijsters serve in the next game to decrease the trail as the scores pushed to 4-2 in favour of the defending champion. Clijsters broke serve in the next game and successful her serve to win the place in the last 16 players of the tournament.
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