Doha: Wozniacki Plays Clijsters In The Final
Wozniacki and Clijsters reiterate the 2009 US Open final in Doha
It will be for the second time the two will meet in final. The last meeting took place at the US Open last year when the Belgian beat Wozniacki in straight sets as the revenge come. Top seeded, the 20-year-old Dane will face Kim Clijsters in the final at the WTA Championship in Doha. They both won the White, respectively Maroon groups on their way to the last term. Caroline Wozniacki defeated Vera Zvonareva 7-5, 6-0 in the first semi final, while third-ranked in Doha, Clijsters passed Samantha Stosur almost in the same manner. She barely won the first set, but then simply smashed the Australian. It ended 7-6(3), 6-1 as the Belgian looks now for her second major trophy of the season, fifth title of the year.
Clijsters can make it, taking into account that she won already three Grand Slams, all three US Open, plus two WTA Championships, except the doubles where she also took the French Open and Wimbledon, both in 2003. Said the Belgian after she beat Stosur: “Sam and I have played some tough matches in the past, but today I was able to play well on the important points. That’s what helped me win the first set. In the second set I think her level dropped a little bit.” It was a tough match though for the Belgian who saw Stosur leading 3-0 in the first set, thing which would threaten her. The Australian broke point in the second game of the match to shape a first set win. But finally, all that she could do was to push it into the tie break where she lost to three. Clijsters played fantastic. She would break back, but also save a set point to the Australian at 4-5. Then things were about to turn out 180 degrees.
Clijsters chose to play aggressive and succeeded. She did it in a champion style without losing concentration. Furthermore, she seemed pretty confident, especially in the second set, not to allow Stosur making her own game. However, the Belgian triumphed and plays her first WTA Championship final in this part of the world. She claimed she expects plenty of spectators on Sunday, at least the same number who came to assist her when she played Azarenka. People stayed then until 1am to watch the US Open winner. Clijsters leads Wozniacki 1-0 in the head-to-head confrontation. The 27-year-old Belgian is also looking for her 40th singles title of the career, while the Danish youngster her 13th.
Clijster can improve her record to a 477-113 as the Dane can make it 233-88. Apart from this, Wozniacki had almost the same fate the Belgian had in the semi final against Zvonareva. She was pretty close to lose the first set without an explanation. The Russian came from a 4-1 handicap to overcome Wozniacki and have two set points. Caroline had a wonderful start as nothing seemed to have stopped her. She won her first games to love as the Russian couldn’t understand anything. The match had finally an interesting turn. Although Zvonareva climbed back, the Dane succeeded in talking the first set after lot of work. But then it was also the moment the Russian would only remain stunned.
Wozniacki won the second game 6-0 and probably a third wouldn’t look differently. She broke twice in the second set, in the second and fourth game. The first one has been collected after Zvonareva double faulted, whilst the second came as a result of a passing shot winner down the line. Now, the Dane is in front of her first major title of career. She is one of the fewer players to end the year top spot in the WTA without winning a Grand Slam tour. She was very close though to claiming one last summer when she played the US Open final against the same Belgian, who was unseeded at that time. So, this is her second chance to win a major trophy. She barely reached the fourth round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, and the quarter final at Roland Garros.
Of course, Clijsters has more experienced in playing a major final. Apart from winning the WTA Champ in 2002 and 2003, and the US Open in 2005, 2009 and 2010, she also reached the final at the Australian Open in 2004 and at the French Open in 2001 and 2003. As for Wimbledon, she only reached two semi finals in 2003 and 2006. The Belgian won the four titles of the season in Brisbane, Miami, Cincinnati and Flushing Meadows. On contrast, Wozniacki is aiming her seventh trophy of the year. The young Dane won in Ponte Vedra Beach, Copenhagen, Montreal, New Haven, Tokyo and Beijing earlier this month.
No matter how the final will end for Wozniacki, she has already secured her top spot at the end of the season after beating Francesca Schiavone, the Italian who ended Elena Dementieva’s career in Doha a couple of days ago. But just tw days after the Dane found out she will end her first year as leader in the WTA, her semi final opponent, Vera Zvonareva has also just found out she secured the second spot in the standings. The Russian came in Doha as second seeded and did a wonderful job until the best of four round. The Dane didn’t win any Grand, but finishes top spot. The Russian won just one single title this year, but she is right behind Wozniacki in the rankings. Unlike Wozniacki, Zvonareva played the Wimbledon final, but lost it in front of Serena Williams.
In the doubles, pair Dulko/Pennetta wil face King/Shvedova in the first final, while the second will bring face to face Peschke/Srebotnik and Raymond/Stubbs pairs.
