Clijsters downs Sharapova to claim Cincinnati Open
MASON: Maria Sharapova of Russia almost defeated Kim Clijsters of Belgium but failed to overpower intermittent rains in the Cincinnati Open final on late Sunday as she missed three championship points to had the Cincinnati title to her Belgian opponent.
Kim Clijsters of Belgium celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the Cincinnati Open women’s tennis singles final. Courtesy: REUTERS
Kim Clijsters was struggling at 5-3 in the second set after losing the first set by 6-2 but the rain forced a break, after which the Belgian player looked a completely different player altogether and not only survived the straight sets defeat scare but also made sure that she won the penultimate set by 6-2 to win her fourth title since coming back to the game after a maternity leave.
Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts to making her shot against Kim Clijsters of Belgium in the Championship match of the 2010 Cincinnati Women’s Open tennis tournament. Courtesy: REUTERS
Still struggling from a heel injury, the Russian tennis queen, Maria Sharapova, took a medical time-out in the third set. Her injury has become the buzz in the town days ahead of the all-important US Open. She told reporters after the match, “I think it certainly gave her time to relax, and more than the conditions themselves, I think it was about just maybe her going in and having a chance to think about what she needs to do differently”.
Kim Clijsters of Belgium celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova of Russia in the singles final match on day seven of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open. Courtesy: GETTY IMAGES
With this victory against Maria Sharapova, watched by her daughter Jade, to win $350,000 prize money, Kim Clijsters now has 38 WTA wins.
Clijsters, who has won US Open, Brisbane International and the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami since returning after the maternity break, told reporters, “You can’t start a match when you come out of the locker room like that, you can’t start it at 0-0. You have to be ready to go and you have to get yourself a little bit pumped up and fired up. That’s what I tried to do”.
Kim Clijsters (R) of Belgium and Maria Sharapova of Russia poses with their individual trophies during the singles final match on day seven of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open. Courtesy: GETTY IMAGES
“To me, obviously being my first tournament that I played last year, it was already special. It’s kind of just for everybody in my team; it was just nice to be back at the place where we started last year.
“To win it this year, you know, means a lot. Obviously after the (foot) injury and everything as well to beat a players like Maria and Pennetta this week is good to take to with me to Montreal next week and then obviously the US Open is ahead,” she added.
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