Kim Clijsters holds aloft the Brisbane International trophy. Picture: Darren England (I love that cheeky smile =)
Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters enjoy the limelight after their epic final. Picture: Darren England IF last night's Brisbane International women's singles final was the reunion, then bring on the rematch.
Kim Clijsters and compatriot Justine Henin renewed their gripping rivalry after almost four years apart, with Clijsters winning the Belgian civil war in a dramatic three-set thriller.
It took a third-set tie-break to separate the pair, Clijsters throwing her arms skywards in relief and jubilation after the 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6) triumph.
The pair traded blows as first Clijsters then Henin climbed on top of the contest before the tense finish.
The tennis was not the highest quality from two stars of the past decade. Both made forced and unforced errors, more so as their legs tired in the third set, and fired almost 20 double faults between them.
Clijsters had the stronger legs, saving a championship point when down 4-5 in the third to lift her 36th career title.
The win could send her into the world's top 15 by the start of next week's Australian Open while the encouraging hit-out will give Henin faith that she can trouble more top 20 players in her comeback season.
Clijsters hit the ground running, setting her compatriot on her heels by taking the first two games of the match.
Henin, however, would not go quietly. Looking just as fit and agile as she did before retiring from the tour two years ago, the former world No.1 moved well and made Clijsters chase hard for her points.
Henin counterpunched and worked all the angles, virtually running herself back into the match.
She broke back immediately to give the capacity crowd the sense that this contest would go the distance.
Clijsters seized on the 2-2 first set deadlock to take control of the match.
She recovered from a double fault in the fifth game to string together a succession of clean winners.
The rumbling of freight trains along the line behind the Tennyson stadium seemed to mimic Clijsters' gathering momentum.
Clijsters' power and metronomic rhythm from the baseline helped her dominate on service and capitalise on two break points to forge ahead 4-2.
Not many would have spotted the understated fist pump from Clijsters as she finished an easy service game to stretch her lead.
But no one at Pat Rafter Arena missed the repeat performance, another clenched fist, this time more emphatic than the first, accompanied by a guttural "c'mon" after winning a crucial rally that all but clinched the first set.
The momentum from her powerful finish to the first set continued early in the second.
Clijsters had a 2-0 lead before fans who had stepped out for a coffee could reclaim their seats.
Henin was gone, unravelling by the minute.
She made errors that were uncharacteristic for a player with a reputation for consistency and precision. Or so it seemed. Down 4-1, she staged a spirited comeback that wrestled the whip from Clijsters' fingers. Then it was Clijsters' turn to feel the pressure.
From a seemingly impregnable position she conceded four consecutive games to hand Henin the second set but pulled herself together to take the final-set tiebreak.
Ok, now I REALLY wanna see this match!.
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