18/05/02
Justine Henin of Belgium completed a morale-boosting victory over compatriot Kim Clijsters on Saturday to take her place in the Italian Open final.
The fifth seed, despite concerns over a leg injury, beat Clijsters 7-5, 6-2 to set up a clash with Serena Williams.
Henin won the German Open last week and is peaking at the perfect time for the French Open, which starts at Roland Garros on May 27.
The 19-year-old reached the semi-finals in Paris last season, but succumbed to Clijsters after winning the first set and serving for a 5-2 lead in the second.
This time, Henin did not let her advantage slip after battling back well from a 5-3 deficit in the opening set.
The fifth seed won the crucial points from the baseline and was more consistent that Clijsters, whose superior power cost her accuracy at times.
Henin reeled off four games to take the first set and then dominated her compatriot in the second set to gain revenge for that defeat at the French Open.
17/05/02
Clijsters sets up all-Belgian semi
May 17, 2002
Clijsters defeated France's Sandrine Testud 6-1 6-3 while Henin beat Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-3 6-4.
The 18-year-old Clijsters, ranked number three in the world, cruised through the first set against Testud.
Then, at 3-3 in the second set, the 30-year-old Testud started to struggle with her ball toss and double faulted to give Clijsters a 4-3 lead.
The veteran French player double faulted again on match point.
'I tried to be aggressive on her service games, and it helped.' Clijsters said.
Clijsters will meet her compatriot for the third time this year on Saturday. Clijsters won both previous meetings, including a quarter-final match at the Australian Open.
'I haven't played her in a while,' Clijsters said of Henin. 'She's obviously playing well. I'm proud to be in the semi-finals playing against her.'
Henin, who won the German Open last week by beating Jennifer Capriati and Serena Williams, continued her good form against Ruano Pascual, a qualifier.
'I wasn't really in the match at the beginning,' Henin said. 'I've never played her, and I didn't know what she was trying to do against me. I was sleeping a little bit.'
08/05/02
Kim Clijsters came to Berlin as the tournament favourite after her victory over Venus Williams in the tournament final in Hamburg last Sunday, but the Belgian ace was sent packing after a gruelling 2 hour and 46 minute duel with Israel’s Anna Smashnova.
The 25-year-old Smashnova is enjoying her best year on the WTA tour, having won titles in Auckland and Canberra, and reaching a career high 34 in the rankings.
The pint sized Israeli ran the more powerful Clijsters around the court from the start and raced to a 5-2 first set lead before the Belgian found her rhythm, rattling off the next 5 games to take the set 7-5.
Clijsters looked to be in control as she surged to a 4-1 second set lead before Smashnova staged a remarkable comeback to clinch the set 6-4. She then emerged victorious in a topsy turvey decider, 7-5.
Afterwards, Smashnova rated the win the best of her career.
' It’s definitely my biggest win' Said Smashnova who has already notched up victories over Jelena Dokic and Justine Henin in 2002.
Clijsters admitted the defeat may have come at the right time with the French Open a couple of weeks away.
' In one way it’s a good thing so that I can rest my shoulder and the rest of my body because I have been feeling pretty tired over the last few days after the tournament in Hamburg last week.'
05/05/02
Belgian Kim Clijsters shocked world No. 1 Venus Williams with a sterling comeback to win the Betty Barclay Cup in Hamburg on Sunday.
Clijsters recovered after being steam-rolled in the first set to clinch a 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory and establish herself as one of the favourites for this month's French Open.
Having struggled with injury during the tournament, Williams looked on course for victory when she raced through the first set 6-1.
Clijsters, runner-up to Jennifer Capriati in last year's French Open final, made a few too many unforced errors in the opening set, but improved in the second to level the match.
The Belgian then raced to a 4-1 lead in the third before double-faulting to allow Williams back in.
The American brought it back to 5-4, but Clijsters held her nerve to serve out for a superb victory and her first title of the year.
In the Semifinal Kim defeated Jelena Dokic 6-4, 4-4 (retired).
03/05/02
Kim has reached the Semifinals of the Betty Barclay Cup. In the 2nd round she defeated German Barbara Rittner with 6-3, 2-1 (Rittner injured), and in the Quarterfinal she defeated Barbara Schett with 6-4, 6-2. In the Semifinal, she meets Yugoslavian Jelena Dokic, the 5th seed (who defeated in the Quarter's Belgian 4th seed Justine Henin 7-6, 7-6).
01/05/02
Kim has to play Thursday against home-playing Barbara Rittner, who defeated Elena Likhovtseva in the 1st round 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
She entered the tournament with a wildcard.
30/04/02
Kim is currently playing at the Betty Barclay Cup in Germany. As the 2nd seed, she has received a bye in the 1st Round. In the 2nd one, she has to play against either Russian Elena Likhovtseva, either home-playing wilcard Barbara Rittner. The tournament is played on clay.
Kim is currently ranked 3th.
29/03/02
Sorry for not been updating my site, but my computer sort of crashed down 5 days ago...
Kim has reached the Quarter Finals of the NASDAQ-100, after beating Foretz(6-2, 6-3), Suarez(6-4, 6-4) and Black(6-4, 6-2). In the Quarter's Kim lost in 3 sets to Monica Seles with(6-4, 3-6 and 3-6). It's a good prestation of Kim as a come-back tourney.
22/03/02
Kim plays in the 2nd round of the NASDAQ-100 Open against French qualifier Stephanie Foretz(WTA no.111), who defeated Adriana Serra-Zanetti(WTA no.42) in round 1 (6-4,6-3). Kim, seeded 4th and world no.5, plays only her 2nd match after her arm injury hope she's ok.
