Kim Clijsters stomps over Iveta Benesova to reach the semis – Brisbane International 2012
Fifth seed, Kim Clijsters, eased past Czech Iveta Benesova, top seed Samantha Stosur’s conqueror, in straight sets at the Brisbane International 2012, an Australian Open build-up tournament held on the hard courts in Brisbane,
Australia. She registered a 6-3, 6-2 victory over the left-handed Czech to reach the semi-finals on Thursday.
Belgian number one re-ignited her last year’s spark to formulate a straight set victory over Benesova, ranked 54th in the WTA Premier Rankings, on their second meeting. She not only extended lead in
the head-to-head series by 2-0 against the Czech but also booked a final four spot at this first WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier event of 2012.
A former world number one, Clijsters, burst her skills and agility in the opening set and went on a five games killing spree to dominate the opener. Despite losing her serve in the seventh game, she stayed on course and clinched
the set with a 6-3 win. The Belgian committed plenty of unforced errors, three double faults and a lower first serve share but dusted away six out of seven breakpoints she came across.
After Benesova held her serve in the opening game of the second set, the Belgian veteran unleashed flurry of ground strokes to reel off the next five games in a row. Clijsters then held her serve in the eighth game again
and sealed the set by winning six games to two. She again clobbered a lower first serve share but registered a perfect win on it.
Overall the world number 13, Clijsters, displayed a shaky performance in the match and spilled many unforced errors. However, she converted four out of thirteen break chances to her advantage, bagging the match to inch closer
at her 33rd career title.
"There were a few rallies I could have gone for the lines a little more," Clijsters said. "Iveta's so good when she has the ball on her racquet, she can just dictate. I don't know if she's harder to read because she's a lefty,
but she is harder to read, so I needed to be in charge of the rally as soon as I could."
Clijsters was sidelined from professional tennis circuit for a significant of the last year due to injury. She won the Australian Open, her fourth Grand Slam last year but suffered an abdominal injury at the Toronto WTA event
in September, eventually skipping the remaining season, including the US Open, for rehab and recovery. Clijsters reached the number one rank in February last year and made final showdowns at the Sydney and Paris WTA events.
Up next for the Belgian is the gorgeous Slovak, Daniela Hantuchova, who got a walkover against a former world number one, Serena Williams. The American made a comeback in this tournament after playing her last match at the
US Open (lost to Stosur).
Clijsters simply needs to play a better game against a former world number five, Hantuchova. She better find as many break opportunities as she can and ping the shots onto the lines in order to avoid unforced errors and double
faults.
Third seeded Italian, Francesca Schiavone, will also feature the final four. She is the only other seeded player left in the tournament. The Italian number one rallied past sixth seed, Jelena Jankovic, to book this spot.
Awaiting her is the Estonian Kaia Kanepi who upset second seeded German, Andrea Petkovic, to reach this spot.
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