In their final tune-up tournament before the Australian Open, No. 3-seed Kim Clijsters was stunned during the Sydney International when Li Na beat her 7-6, 6-3. Climbing back from a 5-0 first-set deficit, Li earned her fourth career WTA title.
Kim Clijsters Upset By Li Na At Sydney International
Belgium’s Clijsters had won four of the five previous meetings with Li, the No. 11 player in the world. The title is her first since June 2010. “She’s definitely a player who has every quality to win a grand slam,” Clijsters said.
Clijsters had won 27 of the last 30 matches she played. But after the hot start against Li, Clijsters' serve and forehand floundered, causing 27 unforced errors. Clijsters lost 13 of the last 17 games.
Had she won, Clijsters would have moved up to No. 2 in the world.
Li Na’s opening round match in the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday evening, is against Sofia Arvidsson, who didn’t play in last year’s Aussie Open. Clijsters, who is seeded third, will face Dinara Safina -- also a former world No. 1.
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