Kim Clijsters new Australian Open Champion
In a commendable fight back, Kim Clijsters, of Belgium defeated Li Na of China 3-6, 6-3 and 6-3.
Showing admirable fortitude, she came up from a set down to first level the score and then to take the match. It was a wonderful battle of attrition, as both players have similar styles of play and countered each other very well.
Clijsters and Li are both heavy-hitting base-liners. An exciting match is always expected when two such players clash. An exciting match was indeed what fans were treated to. The match started with Clijsters gaining a break and the upper hand.
Soon enough though, Li was on level terms. She employed her booming forehand effectively, forcing the Belgian into corners and making her work for every point. The game looked level for a couple of games, but then Li gained a break, thanks to an error by
Clijsters. 4-3 and 6-3 were no distance apart, as with another break Li had a set and a clear shot at the title.
In the second set, two quick breaks started things off. 1-1 and neither player had held serve yet. The same thing happened in the next two games, with the score being 2-2 and no holds for either player.
Then two quick-fire service holds followed, both players finally getting something off their serves. Immediately afterwards though, Clijsters broke again, and then sailed to the set with a second break of serve.
The third set was as fiercely contested as the first two. Again, breaks of serve featured prominently, and so the score became 3-1, with just Clijsters holding. 4 quick holds followed, featuring some lengthy rallying.
Finally though, Clijsters produced her best tennis of the night and took the game. Two amazing forehands and a ripping backhand set up the break points, and Li obliged on the first with an error. Clijsters had finally won.
This is the 4th grand slam for the 27 year old Belgian. It is her first Australian Open, and the win takes her to number 2 in the world rankings.
For Li, it is the end of a fairytale journey. As the first Asian to ever feature in a grand slam final, she has already made history. And the form that she is in, she is bound to continue achieving great things. And so, hopefully, will Clijsters.
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