Friday, August 14, 2009

Safina ends Clijsters' Cincinnati run

It may not always have been pretty, but Thrill Ride threw off Kim Clijsters today in the Cincinnati quarterfinals. Down 0-2 in the first set, top seed Dinara Safina proceeded to pretty much run over Clijsters for a 6-2 set win. But in the second set, Clijsters found her way.

It looked like there would be a third set, but I don't call the world number 1 Thrill Ride for nothing: Down 1-4 in the second set, Safina took it to 2-4. In her next service game, Clijsters went up 40-0, and Safina reeled off five straight points to break her. Then Clijsters, serving at 4-4, faced a break point, but saved it with a sharp forehand. She was broken, however, on the next break point.

Safina then served for the match at 5-4, but Clijsters broke her. Again, it looked as though there would be a third set, but Safina broke again, then held to take the second set 7-5.

She lost her quarterfinal match, but Kim Clijsters--returning to the tour after a 27-month absence--has a lot to be proud of this week.

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