Aussie Kim Claims Australian Open Title
Kim Clijsters over the years has been affectionately known as “Aussie Kim”. It comes from the days when she and Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt were a couple.
Clijsters now feels she deserves the title after winning the Australian Open 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. “Now I feel like you guys can finally call me Aussie Kim because I won the title,” she said during the trophy presentation.
Li Na had the hopes of China riding on her shoulders as she was the first Asian player, and of course the first Chinese player to contest a Grand Slam singles title. She started the match by losing the first eight points to see herself down 0-2. From there she started swingly freely and over powered Clijsters.
Li won the next six games from seven to do what no other player had done during the Australian Open fortnight, and that was to win a set agianst the three-time US Open champion.
The second set started with four service breaks before Li held to look like she was taking control. Clijsters had lost the 2004 Australian Open to Justine Henin and was determined to not let this opportunity slip by. Clisters started to play more aggressively and the tactic paid off. Li started to lose focus. She was complaining about Chinese in the crowd offering advice, and about the photographers.
Clijsters slowly took control and before long she found herself with a championship point. After winning the match you could see how much it meant to her as the tears flowed.
For Li she is happy just to have reached the final.
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