Kim Clijsters downs Simona Halep comprehensively in the opening round - Brisbane International 2012
Belgian number one, Kim Clijsters, blasted past the Romanian, Simona Halep, with a breadstick in her opening round match at the Brisbane International 2012, a WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) International event which is held in
the first week of January. She was sidelined for most parts of the 2011 season due to injuries but registered a 6-1, 6-4 victory in her comeback match on Sunday.
Clijsters, who reached the number one spot in the WTA Premier rankings on February 2011, displayed her true colours to outclass the Romanian, world number 47, on their first meeting. The Belgian required almost an hour to not only
advance in this hard court event but also took lead in the head-to-head series by 1-0 against Halep.
Currently ranked at 13th in the WTA rankings, the Belgian bombarded angled shots and backhand slices to wipe out the last five games in a row, pocketing a breadstick in under half an hour. She never faced any hindrance
or breakpoint and capitalised on two out of six break chances to her advantage.
The 28-year-old Belgian kept momentum breezing into the following set and held her opening serve in the second game. Later, she took lead for the first time in the fifth game. Despite losing her edge in the eighth game and levelling
the scores at 4-4, Clijsters broke the Romanian serve again in the following game, eventually clinching the set with a 6-4 score line.
All in all, the Belgian outshined Halep completely, as she clobbered a better first serve share of 65 percent and bagged 24 out of 31 points on it. She also clinched 28 out of 54 points on return and played with conviction throughout
the match.
"For the first match this was pretty good," Clijsters told reporters afterwards. "In the second set there were a few little errors I will need to focus on in my next match, but overall I felt good out there. I was playing aggressively
and moving well. I was pleased with the way I served. I was pretty satisfied overall."
Clijsters suffered an abdominal injury at the Rogers Cup in Toronto last August and she has been ruled out of professional tennis since then. This is the first tournament she is playing after the injury struck her and the Belgian
seems to re-ignite her spark. Her rehab at home for a couple of month paid off and Clijsters earned a breadstick in her Sunday’s matchup. However, the veteran has not been performing in the professional circle for a long period of time and she needs to practice
harder.
Next up for the Belgian veteran is a former world number one, Ana Ivanovic, who stomped over Tamira Paszek in straight sets to reach this spot.
"Ana is a great player. She has had some tough years but has recovered well," Clijsters commented on Ivanovic. "She and I have always gotten along well.”
The Serbian Ace smashed five aces and required an hour and twenty minutes to formulate a 6-3, 6-3 victory. She saved two out of five breakpoints she encountered through her amazing defensive skills and capitalised on six out of
nine break opportunities to her advantage. Ivanovic spilled three double faults and earned a spectacular 65 percent win on her higher first serve share.
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