MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium beat top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) Monday to reach the Australian Open semifinals.
The four-time major winner next plays third-seeded Victoria Azarenka, a player from Belarus who posted a 6-7 (0-7), 6-0, 6-2 victory over No. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland to move into the semis of a Grand Slam tournament for the second time.
Azarenka is one of three players who can become No. 1 in the world. The 21-year-old Wozniacki, who has yet to win a major singles title, needed to reach the semifinals to retain the top ranking.
No. 2 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic and No. 4 Maria Sharapova of Russia also have chances to rise to No. 1.
Clijsters, seeded 11th, has had a roller-coaster ride into the Australian Open semis for the seventh time. She twisted her ankle and had to save four match points in a fourth-round victory over Li Na of China in a rematch of last year's final.
It was as hot as 95 degrees during the Clijsters-Wozniacki match.
"I had to work really hard for it," Clijsters said. "Caroline is a great fighter. I was happy to get through, and not in a three-setter because it's so hot."
Clijsters and Wozniacki each started nervously, with three service breaks to start the match. But the 28-year-old Belgian dictated play from her first hold in the fourth game until she was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second.
Clijsters let her guard down and allowed Wozniacki back into the match. With the ninth game of the second set tied at 30, Wozniacki won the next two points to break Clijsters and then held serve to get it back on level terms.
Clijsters had not lost any of her eight previous tiebreakers at Melbourne Park, and she hit a backhand down the line to take a 5-4 lead in the tiebreaker against Wozniacki.
Clijsters set up double match point with a cross-court forehand winner and sealed it with a volley.
Clijsters had 39 winners and 40 unforced errors, compared with 13 winners and 26 unforced errors for Wozniacki.
Well, the ankle seems to be holding up very well!.
This was a wonderfully solid performance from Kim with the exception of that small hiccup in the second set that allowed Wozniacki to take it to a tie-break, but Clijsters held her ground (good to see). A hard fought match.
The semis are going to be really tough I think but given Kim's experience I think she's got a real shot of making it through (perhaps even benefiting from some nerves on the part of her opponent which are sure to be there).
But I guess the same can be said for Kim, I think it'll be a case of who can hold their nerve better. It should be an excellent match either way.
Congrats Kim, for your last Aussie Open you're certainly making it memorable! :). Thanks for making this one slightly less dramatic! :D.
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