[KIM ] Clijsters vs. Kanepi in Gaz de France Stars Finale
November 4, 2006
Clijsters vs. Kanepi in Gaz de France Stars Finale
HASSELT, Belgium - It will be the hometown girl versus this week's Cinderella
in Sunday's final at the $175,000 Gaz de France Stars as Belgium's Kim
Clijsters takes on qualifier Kaia Kanepi.
In the featured night semifinal on Saturday, top-seeded Clijsters survived a
three-set thriller against No.6 seed Vera Zvonareva to advance to the final,
64 36 64.
After relatively easier matches earlier this week, Clijsters was tested by
the former Top 10-ranked Zvonareva. In fact, the first set of this semifinal
was longer than Clijster's 36-minute quarterfinal win over Sandra Kloesel on
Friday.
While Clijsters edged past the Russian in the first set by converting crucial
break points, Zvonareva took the advantage in the second set and forced a
decisive third set, which was the grand finale of an already tight match.
Clijsters got the early break in the fifth game and although Zvonareva had
many break chances, it was Clijsters' who came out on top, sealing the win
with a backhand winner down the line on match point.
"It was very close. This was the type of match where every single point was
important. But it was fun," Clijsters said. "This is what you work for, what
you train for. Even if I lost, I would have had a good feeling about this
match. Of course, when you come out of it a winner, it's much better."
The No.6-ranked Belgian is now one win away from defending her title in Hasselt
but must get past an impressive Kanepi, who has been turning heads this week
with remarkable wins over top players.
Kanepi contininued her dream run this week by reaching her first Sony
Ericsson WTA Tour final. The 21-year-old Estonian's previous-best results on
Tour were two semifinal finishes at the Tier IV event in Prague earlier this
year and at the Tier III event in Kolkata in 2006.
Now, Kanepi could make history as the first-ever Estonian to win a Tour
singles title.
After stunning world No.15 and No.2 seed Francesca Schiavone in Friday's
quarterfinals for her first Top 20 win, Kanepi, ranked No.91, scored another
upset win over No.41-ranked Michaella Krajicek in the first semifinal of the
day, 64 64.
Clearly, being the underdog has not disrupted Kanepi mental game so far.
Against Krajicek, she fired off winners and held serve while Krajicek
struggled with her shots, especially on her forehand side. Serving for the
first set at 5-4, Kanepi saved a break point and eventually took the first
set in 37 minutes.
Krajicek hung tough in the second set but at 4-all, Kanepi broke through
Krajicek's serve to go up 5-4. Serving for the match, Kanepi faced no break
points this time and secured the win at love.
Kanepi will now face another top-ranked player in Clijsters, whom she has
never opposed, in the final on Sunday, which starts at 2 p.m. local time. The
doubles final between top-ranked duo Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur and
Eleni Daniilidou and Jasmin Woehr will follow the singles final.
The singles winner will pocket US$28,000, while the doubles champions take home
a check for US$8,250.
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