Kim Clijsters Wins First Australian Open Title

Lawn Tennis, Ace Tennis Magazine, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Kim Clijsters Wins First Australian Open Title
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Saturday, January 29, 2011 11:55pm PST USA

MELBOURNE--Saturday at the Australian Open, the second seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium defeated the ninth seeded Na Li of China 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to win her fourth career singles grand slam title and first Australian Open championship.

Clijsters took a 2-0 early lead in the match before Li would win the first set 6-3.

Li broke serve in the second set behind aggressive baseline play to reach 3-2. But the Chinese woman would not win another game in the

Kim Clijsters of Belgium | Image: Getty

The turning point of the match occurred midway through the second set when Li’s level of play dropped.

second set as Clijsters would fine tune her game while Li would commit several costly errors.

A netted crosscourt backhand from Li leveled the match at one set all.

Clijsters controlled much of the final set as it appeared the turning point of the match occurred midway through the second set when Li’s level of play dropped.

With Clijsters serving for the match at 5-3, 40-0, a Li inside out forehand down the line landed wide to end the match.

Despite finishing one step short, Li would become the first Asian born player to reach a grand slam singles final.

Clijsters scored her first grand slam singles title at the US Open in 2005. The Belgian then won twice again in New York in 2009 and 2010.