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Mauresmo beats Clijsters to win Diamond Games
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-20 11:49
ANTWERP, Belgium - Amelie Mauresmo won her second Diamond Games championship
with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over world No. 1 Kim Clijsters on Sunday, moving a
little closer to taking over the top spot in the rankings.
Mauresmo took
hold of the game in the third set of a gripping match — a rare head-to-head
tournament final between the world's top two players _to win her third straight
tournament.
"Kim played very well at the start and it took me a while to get into the
game, to get back even," Mauresmo said. "We both gave it our maximum."
Her 15th straight match win also took Mauresmo a step closer to taking home
the tournament trophy — a $1.2 million gem-encrusted racket awarded to any
player who wins the Diamond Games title three times in five years. Mauresmo won
her first title in 2005.
But despite her victory, the second-ranked Mauresmo made up minimal ground on
Clijsters for the No. 1 spot because the Belgian also made the finals.
Mauresmo gained momentum after going up 4-2 in the final set, taking
advantage of errors made by Clijsters, who was tiring fast due to the intense
pace.
"I had the chance to do it, but I came a bit short and I felt it in my legs,"
Clijsters said.
Clijsters, playing in front of her hometown crowd, moved to take control of
the first set quickly at 4-1, and seemed to be playing her best tennis since
injuring her right ankle at the Australian Open. Antwerp was her comeback after
three weeks on the sideline.
Clijsters battled hard for every point, pushing the Australian Open champion
in some tense and stunning volley showdowns.
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