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Clijsters tops Davenport at Indian Wells Posted: Sunday March 16, 2003 3:55 PMINDIAN WELLS, Calif. (Reuters) -- Top seed Kim Clijsters used her speed and a powerful attack to down fourth seed Lindsay Davenport 6-4 7-5 to win the Pacific Life Open on Sunday. In winning her second title of the year, the third-ranked Clijsters stood strong in a seesaw contest during which Davenport took huge cuts at the Belgian's second serves and Clijsters ran down nearly every ball. The top seed came back from 3-1 down in the first set, breaking the American for 3-3 when Davenport committed one of her 10 double faults on the day. In an extraordinary game with Davenport serving at 4-5, the 19-year-old Belgian needed four set points to win the set, finally taking it when she laced a backhand crosscourt winner. Davenport again jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Clijsters continued to more than hold her own in vicious forehand rallies and broke back for 3-3 when Davenport again double-faulted. Clijsters had her first match point with Davenport serving at 5-4, but the American responded with a 103-mph service winner. Davenport had three break points at 5-5, but Clijsters saved all three. The American fought off another match point at 5-6 with an inside out forehand winner, but on Clijsters' third match point, Davenport buried an overhead into the net. Clijsters ended the contest with 25 winners to 20 from Davenport, who also committed 37 unforced errors.
Clijsters has now won 12 titles and has reached four finals this year, winning two of them. Her first title of 2003 came at the Sydney International in January.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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