News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp
Home  » Sports » Clijsters makes winning return

Clijsters makes winning return

By Barnaby Chesterman
October 03, 2005 10:47 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Kim Clijsters of Belgium won her eighth title of the year after overpowering Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld 6-2, 6-4 in the final of the $585,000 Luxembourg Open on Sunday.

The victory equalled Clijsters's previous best title haul for a year, in 2003 when she reached number one in the world.

It has been a great year for Clijsters who won her first Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows last month after four defeats in finals stretching back to 2001.

"This was the first tournament that I ever won and that's why it's so nice to be back here for my first tournament after my US Open win," said the champion.

Clijsters did not drop a set all tournament and was only really tested in her quarter-final victory against Italy's Francesca Schiavone.

It was the Belgian's fifth win in Luxembourg and 29th title overall and maintained her perfect record in finals this year.

It was a second final defeat in succession for Groenefeld who lost to Russia's Maria Kirilenko in Beijing last weekend.

Groenefeld lost her first three service games and although she managed to break Clijsters once in the first set, she was well beaten.

She managed two more breaks in the second set but her major problem was always holding on to her own serve and she was broken three more times as Clijsters wrapped up victory in a little over an hour.

Clijsters won her first title in Luxembourg in 1999 and then added three in a row from 2001-2003 before missing last year's event with a wrist injury.

 

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Barnaby Chesterman
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Paris Olympics 2024

India's Tour Of Australia 2024-25