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Clijsters puts up fierce defence of ranking against title threat
Filderstadt, Oct 13: Kim Clijsters retains her world No 1 ranking with victory over Justine Henin-Hardenne in Gernany Filderstadt Grand Prix.
Filderstadt, Oct 13: Kim Clijsters retains her world No 1 ranking with victory over Justine Henin-Hardenne in Gernany Filderstadt Grand Prix.
Defending champion Kim Clijsters held on to her world number one ranking with a 5-7 6-4 6-2 win over fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne to retain her Filderstadt Grand Prix title on Sunday (October 12). Clijsters took just over two hours to overpower Henin-Hardenne, who could have grabbed the number one spot herself with victory. It was the eighth time the two Belgians have met this year. Each has four wins apiece but two of Henin-Hardenne's victories came in the French and U.S. Open finals. In a match of lengthy baseline rallies it was Clijsters who was the stronger player in the final set after the first two had been closely contested. Although her serve was not working to it's normal standard -- she fired down just one ace -- Clijsters proved the more persistent player. Clijsters broke to lead 2-0 in the opening set, but Henin-Hardenne immediately recovered the break in the next game and saved two more break points to level at 2-2.
Clijsters held a set point on her opponent's serve at 5-4 but made a forehand error, and she then dropped her own serve in the next game as Henin-Hardenne struck a trademark backhand volley.
Perhaps having expended too much energy in edging the 56-minute first set, Henin-Hardenne claimed just one point in the first three games of the second. But she quickly recovered, and fired three consecutive aces to level at 3-3.
But Clijsters maintained her challenge, and broke to lead 5-3 on her fourth break point when she forced an error from her return. Although she dropped to her serve to love in the next game, she broke Henin-Hardenne once more for the set.
In the decider, it was Henin-Hardenne who broke first to lead, but Clijsters immediately broke back and in a lengthy sixth game broke again to lead 4-2 on her fourth break point. That ended the resistance of Henin-Hardenne, who surrendered the last two games without earning a point.
It was also only the fourth time in the last 21 years that a European WTA Tour final has featured the world's top two players. Clijsters not only retained her top ranking, she also took possession of a brand new silver coloured Porsche 911.
Bureau Report
Defending champion Kim Clijsters held on to her world number one ranking with a 5-7 6-4 6-2 win over fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne to retain her Filderstadt Grand Prix title on Sunday (October 12). Clijsters took just over two hours to overpower Henin-Hardenne, who could have grabbed the number one spot herself with victory. It was the eighth time the two Belgians have met this year. Each has four wins apiece but two of Henin-Hardenne's victories came in the French and U.S. Open finals. In a match of lengthy baseline rallies it was Clijsters who was the stronger player in the final set after the first two had been closely contested. Although her serve was not working to it's normal standard -- she fired down just one ace -- Clijsters proved the more persistent player. Clijsters broke to lead 2-0 in the opening set, but Henin-Hardenne immediately recovered the break in the next game and saved two more break points to level at 2-2.
Clijsters held a set point on her opponent's serve at 5-4 but made a forehand error, and she then dropped her own serve in the next game as Henin-Hardenne struck a trademark backhand volley.
Perhaps having expended too much energy in edging the 56-minute first set, Henin-Hardenne claimed just one point in the first three games of the second. But she quickly recovered, and fired three consecutive aces to level at 3-3.
But Clijsters maintained her challenge, and broke to lead 5-3 on her fourth break point when she forced an error from her return. Although she dropped to her serve to love in the next game, she broke Henin-Hardenne once more for the set.
In the decider, it was Henin-Hardenne who broke first to lead, but Clijsters immediately broke back and in a lengthy sixth game broke again to lead 4-2 on her fourth break point. That ended the resistance of Henin-Hardenne, who surrendered the last two games without earning a point.
It was also only the fourth time in the last 21 years that a European WTA Tour final has featured the world's top two players. Clijsters not only retained her top ranking, she also took possession of a brand new silver coloured Porsche 911.
Bureau Report