Clijsters in sizzling form
Sunday, 12 January, 2003
by Karen Collins
Belgian Kim Clijsters enters Australian Open 2003 in devastating form after
defeating American Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 6-3 at the Adidas International in
Sydney, and is one of the favourites - along with Serena Williams - according
to her latest victim.
The No.4 ranked player, who easily disposed of No.5 ranked Justin
Henin-Hardenne in the semi-final, did likewise to the former top ranked player
in her first tournament of 2003.
It continued the 19-year-old's terrific form which saw her win three of four
tournaments at the end of last year including the season-ending championships
defeating Henin, No.2 ranked Venus Williams and world No.1 Serena Williams,
all in straight sets.
The only player in 2002 to defeat both Williams sisters, Clijsters can now
add the 2000 Australian Open champion to her latest list of scalps - the
perfect preparation for Melbourne.
"It's nice, I'm playing well and it can't go any better, but it always tough
to focus back on another first match."
Clijsters feels the major improvement to her game has been consistency.
"I also think I'm playing better on the big points. When I was a breakpoint
down I played well and on her breakpoints I played well," Clijsters said.
"I'm also moving better and seeing the ball better."
Davenport agrees, suggesting confidence has grown in last year's Australian
Open semi-finalist.
"A lot of times in this game confidence is what you need to get over the hump
of being a quarter-finalist or semi-finalist to being a winner. Breakpoint
down or on the big points she's so confident in her shots," the 26-year-old
said.
But Clijsters knows victory in the lead-up tournament accounts for little in
capturing a Grand Slam.
"Before the French Open when I made the final I don't think I won a match in
three tournaments. Every day is different in a tennis career, one day you
play unbelievable tennis and the next day there's so many things can go wrong.
That's why I try to focus from day to day and not really worry about who I'm
going to play or how I'm going to play next."
While her current form makes her one to watch, Clijsters knows the next
couple of weeks will be tough.
"Grand Slams are for two weeks and players are so much more motivated
especially players like Venus and Serena. Once it gets to the quarter-finals
and semi-finals they get really fired up and play even better."
Both players struggled with the windy conditions, which Davenport believed
suited the fastest player.
"I was never quite sure where the strike zone was going to be and I was
trying to get to the ball in time to where I felt it was the right spot to
hit the ball but it was really tough to control the ball."
Despite the loss, the American believes she is playing back into form after
returning from knee surgery in July and is ready for another crack at the
Australian Open.
"I was playing the best tennis of my life (before the injury] in the fall of
2001 winning all the tournaments. I hope to get back to that level but it's
obviously a fight when you have been out a long time and the other girls have
been getting better."
"I felt like I needed a lot of matches this week and I don't worry about the
losses too much. I just hope it's not too windy in Melbourne."
The three-time Grand Slam winner - who has now lost in five finals since return
ing - believes her first serve percentage needs to improve while she would like
to be more aggressive and consistent on the returns.
"But hopefully that's the kind of stuff that clicks on one day and can help me
go far in the next two weeks."
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Davenport會扮演種子殺手嗎？Clijster能走多遠？
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