Tennis

Clijsters wins Australian Open singles title

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-01-29 18:58

 

Kim Clijsters of Belgium holds her trophy after winning Li Na of China in their women's singles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne Jan 29, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Li Na of China reacts during a news conference after losing her women's singles final match against Kim Clijsters of Belgium at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne Jan 29, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

MELBOURNE- Belgian tennis star Kim Clijsters, triple US Open champion, claimed her first-ever Australian Open singles title here on Saturday, beating China's Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final.

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Third-seeded Clijsters, 27, rallied to upset ninth-seeded Li Na, who made history for China and Asia to enter a Grand Slam final, in two hours and 15 minutes.

Two weeks ago, Li defeated Clijsters in straight sets 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in the final of Sydney International. In Thursday's semifinal, Li showed her courage by beating world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

In contrast, Clijsters, who had 40 career titles, played her first Grand Slam final a decade ago, and has won the US Open three times on a surface similar to the new center court at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne of Australia. The Belgian was believed to have placed in a more advantage position than Li did.

Clijsters is projected to return to No. 2 in WTA singles rankings next week. Despite Saturday's loss, Li is supposed to return to Top 10 when the new WTA rankings are published on Monday.

 

Li Na of China plays a shot to Kim Clijsters of Belgium during their women's singles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne Jan 29, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Li Na of China plays a shot to Kim Clijsters of Belgium during their women's singles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne Jan 29, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]