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. |
Singles
1R beat
Angelique Widjaja 6-3
5-7 6-3
2R beat Marion
Bartoli 6-4 2-6
6-3
3R beat Paola
Suarez 7-5 6-3
4R beat Nathalie
Dechy 6-2 6-4
QF beat Lisa
Raymond 7-6 6-3
SF lost Kim
Clijsters 2-6 6-7
Doubles with Schett
1R beat Harkleroad/Cargill 6-3 7-6
2R lost Ani/Prusova 3-6 2-6
Photos
Gallery 1
Gallery 2
Gallery 3
Articles
Settled Schnyder thrilled at semi
spot
Gamewatch: Clijsters v Schnyder
Interviews
26/1/2004 vs Dechy
28/1/2004
vs Raymond
29/1/2004
vs Clijsters |
