Clijsters Looks to Repeat Down Under After Upset Win Over Wozniacki
January 24, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Belgium’s Kim Clijsters continued her Australian Open title defense with a 6-3, 7-6(4) quarterfinal win over top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. Up next for Clijsters is a semifinals meeting with the number three seed, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, a 6-7(0), 6-0, 6-2 winner over the number eight seed, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.
"I was happy with the way that I was playing … It was important to just stay focused one point at a time and to really, whenever you felt like you could go for that winner, just try to do that,” Clijsters said. “I’m very happy with the way that I was able to move.”
Wozniacki’s loss to Clijsters is almost certain to cost the top-ranked player in the world her top spot. Azarenka is one of three players who can overtake the top spot from Wozniacki, who needed to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open to retain her spot atop the WTA rankings.
“I’m really glad I could stay tough and finish the match,” said Azarenka, who served six double-faults and had 38 unforced errors against Radwanska. “I’m just really happy to be in the semifinals to give it all out there.”
