Kim Clijsters ousts Jelena Jankovic in the first round battle – Wimbledon Championships 2012
In the clash between the two former world number one players, the Belgian veteran, Kim Clijsters, overcame her Serbian counterpart, Jelena Jankovic, to clear the opening round of the Wimbledon Championships on Monday. The unseeded
world number 47 ousted the 18th seed Jankovic in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, in an emphatic fashion.
Making yet another comeback to the professional circuit after an injury lay-off, Clijsters exhibited her vintage class to turn the tables on Jankovic. The Serbian veteran has been suffering a drastic slump in form throughout the
current season but she was very optimistic to perform well on the grass courts of Wimbledon. All her dreams were shattered by the belligerence of Clijsters, who registered her eighth victory against the 27-year-old Serbian to lead 8-1 in the head-to-head series.
It was Clijsters’ 14th victory of the current season and a much needed one as well. She has been struggling with her physical fitness and had to pull out of the UNICEF Open semi-final last week due to injury. The 29-year-old
Belgian is playing her last WTA season and wants to finish off her sublime career on a winning note by bagging another Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.
"They've always been physical matches," said Clijsters, "In a way I was looking forward to it. I was definitely happy to win today, especially with my last two days after I left Rosmalen. There were definitely a few worries, but
then it's a great feeling when you work so hard towards something and it pays off. For my trainer, for Sam, Carl, Stefan, for my team, it's nice to be able to share those kinds of emotions. The victory on its own felt really special tonight.
Jankovic continued with her losing ways in the opening round match against the unseeded Belgian and was clearly witnessed struggling with her footwork in the first set of the match. She could barely win two games before submitting
it to Clijsters, who went on with her winning impetus in the following set to conclude victory.
Up next for the former world number one is the unseeded Czech contestant, Andrea Hlavackova, in the second round of the Wimbledon Championships later this week. The Czech starlet had no difficulties in dumping the Taiwanese contender,
Kai-Chen Chang, in striaght sets, 6-1, 6-2, in her opening brawl to book a date with Clijsters in round two.
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