Clijsters advances to all-Belgian final
Clijsters advances to all-Belgian final
Thursday, 29 January, 2004
by Barry Levinson
For the first time in Australian Open history, the women's singles final will
be an all-Belgian affair, with world No.2 Kim Clijsters booking an
appointment with world No.1 Justine Henin-Hardenne, after her defeat of
Switzerland's Patty Schnyder 6-2 7-6 (7-2) in the semi-finals.
And like her compatriot, Clijsters has won her way through to the last two
without dropping a set along the journey.
Clijsters shrugged off any doubts about her ability to carry her troublesome
left ankle injury with a powerful performance in the opening set, before
surviving a late challenge from the No.22 seed in the second set, to take out
the contest in one hour and 14 minutes.
"I knew yesterday that it was going to be a little bit sore going for it,"
Clijsters said of her ankle injury which she aggravated in her quarter-final
victory over Russian Anastasia Myskina on Wednesday.
"But doctors have reassured me that I'm not going to make it any worse by
playing. Today I told myself, 'Don't think about it. Try not to worry about
things. Even if you feel a little bit when you're moving around, just keep
going'. And I did. It felt okay."
The match went on serve over the first five games, before Clijsters
capitalised on her first break point opportunity to take a 4-2 lead.
The Belgian No.2 and Aussie fan favourite quickly clinched the first set,
after breaking Schnyder again in the eighth game.
Despite Clijsters' ankle being heavily strapped, the match looked headed for
an early ending, when she snared an early break in the second set and led 3-1.
But displaying the determination that had carried her into her first Grand
Slam semi-final, Schnyder staged a gallant fightback, breaking the No.2 seed
twice in reeling off the next four games.
Schnyder, who received treatment on her right ankle during a change of ends,
served for the second set immediately after at 5-4, but was broken.
By the tiebreaker, Clijsters was back in complete control, surging out to a
5-1 lead, before sealing it 7-2 with a forehand winner.
The Swiss No.22 seed was disappointed about letting a promising opportunity
slip.
"It was a very close second set," she said. "I didn't have set points, but I
was really close. I could have won that set for sure and you never know
what's going to happen in the third, so yeah I'm a little disappointed."
But Schnyder will leave Melbourne satisfied with her achievement.
"It's the greatest tournament I've played. For me, it's amazing to be in the
semis. Just to be there the last few days, I'm really happy. Of course I
wanted to win the whole thing ?but my performance was alright."
Earlier in the day, Henin-Hardenne was the first woman through to the final
after eclipsing Colombian No.32 seed Fabiola Zuluaga 6-2 6-2.
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