[KIM ] Eastbourne Welcomes New Champ Clijsters
June 18, 2005
Eastbourne Welcomes New Champ Clijsters
EASTBOURNE, England - Kim Clijsters has stamped herself as a true contender for
the Wimbledon title this coming fortnight after a resounding victory Saturday
in the final of the $585,000 Hastings Direct International Championships.
The former world No.1, currently ranked No.17 after an injury-plagued 2004,
defeated finals Russian qualifier Vera Douchevina 75 60 in 58 minutes to
claim her 24th career singles title and third of 2005.
"It feels great to win here; it's a lovely tournament," said Clijsters, who
missed much of last season with a left wrist injury that required surgery last
June. "The people were very friendly and it was very relaxing. It's especially
nice to be here considering everything that happened last year with my wrist."
Clijsters, the No.7 seed making her Eastbourne debut, overcame an early
challenge from the 18-year-old Douchevina, who was appearing in her first
Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles final. After breaking back for 4-4 in the first
set, Clijsters upped the tempo, securing the first set with her third break.
Thereafter, the Belgian never looked back, cruising to her second career grass
court title after winning in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands two years ago.
"I've definitely been feeling a lot more comfortable with my game on grass
courts this week as the tournament's gone on," added Clijsters, who
sensationally won consecutive hardcourt titles at Indian Wells and Miami
before a mediocre clay season during which she injured her right knee. "It was
a good decision to come here a week early after the French. I was very
disappointed how I played there (falling in the fourth round to Lindsay
Davenport) and I think it also motivated me a lot to do well here.
"The first set was tough today. she played very deep and I didn't serve that
well. Once I broke back to 4-all in the first set, I started to find my
rhythm and felt a lot better after that."
Despite the loss, Douchevina enjoyed an outstanding week, scoring her
career-first Top 10 win in the second round with a 64 64 upset of top seed and
world No.3 Amelie Mauresmo. She followed that up with a semifinal win over
Italian qualifier Roberta Vinci, trailing 62 53 and coming within two points of
defeat before reaching her first final with a 26 76(6) 63 victory.
"It was very interesting to play my first final today and play against a good
player like Kim," said Douchevina. "I started very well but I felt tired when
the first set got to 5-all and I think all the eight matches I've played in
the last week have caught up with me. Kim played with much more power in the
second set and it was very hard for me.
"My dream is to be Top 10 and hopefully win a Grand Slam some day. I know I
play (Ana) Ivanovic at Wimbledon and this will be a very interesting match
for me, since I played her on hardcourts in Dubai last time and won."
In the quarterfinals, Vinci notched her own career-best win, ousting No.4
seed Anastasia Myskina, 64 76(3). The top seeds certainly had a rough time in
Eastbourne, with defending champion Kuznetsova narrowly escaping defeat
against fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the second round; and Alicia Molik
pulling out of Eastbourne and Wimbledon due to her ongoing inner ear infection.
"I think this is the best decision at this point," Molik said. "I'm not giving
myself a time frame for my comeback this time. When I first got this (
infection) I gave myself a goal of being ready for Wimbledon, and that was highly
motivating for me, but this time I'm going to take as long as I need."
The doubles title was won by veteran American/Australian team, Lisa Raymond
and Rennae stubbs, who won their 32nd title together with a 63 75 win over
No.3-seeded Russians Elena Likhovtseva and Vera Zvonareva. The No.2-seeded
Raymond/Stubbs were appearing in their 45th doubles final as a team. It was
Raymond's 45th career doubles title and Stubbs's 49th.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 220.137.34.16
NED-BEL-LUX 近期熱門文章
PTT體育區 即時熱門文章
