PETE ZIEBRON in CINCINNATI
A determined Kim Clijsters prepares to serve to Maria Sharapova. Pete Ziebron Images
CINCINNATI- Prior to a 72 minute rain delay, Kim Clijsters saved 3 match points against Maria Sharapova and used the weather related break in Sunday's Final to storm back to win the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open 2-6 7-6 6-2 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.
Sharapova, making her debut in Cincinnati, raced through the 1st set 6-2, secured an early break in the 2nd set and appeared to be cruising to the finish line while dropping only 5 games in the process. However, Clijsters had other ideas and was able to hold on for dear life while dark clouds moved in overhead and thunder rumbled in the immediate area. Sharapova was playing beat the clock as she attempted to close out the match and even held 3 match points before play was finally halted with Clijsters serving at 4-5, deuce in the 2nd set. "You're playing a day match, and within 30 seconds you're almost playing a night match. And then you get off the court and you're playing a day match again" Sharapova quipped after the match. Concerning the delay, Sharapova replied "I think it certainly gave her time to relax....and having a chance to think about what she needs to do differently."
Following the delay, Clijsters won the next 2 points and knotted the set at 5-5. Sharapova and Clijsters each won their respective service games and the 2nd set advanced to a tiebreak. Sharapova jumped to an early 3-0 lead before Clijsters steadied her game. "I thought if I could just get 1 or 2 of her service points, I could just get back into the tiebreaker....I felt fresh" Clijsters would reveal in the press conference. At 0-3, Clijsters would go on to win 7 of the next 8 points in the breaker to win it 7-4 and take the Cincinnati Final to a 3rd and decisive set.
Sharapova held her initial service game but then lost her way when the chair refused to grant her a challenge request that would have resulted in a double fault by Clijsters in her first service game of the final set. The negated challenge turned out to be the crucial juncture of the set as Sharapova called for the trainer after being broken in her next service game to go down 2-1. "I was having trouble landing on my left foot...my service percentage absolutely went down in the breaker and in the 3rd set" Sharapova explained following the match.
For the remainder of the set, Sharapova struggled with her foot, prompting Clijsters to state "I think she started going for things a little bit more. She made some more double faults." Clijsters would go on to drop only 1 more game the rest of the way and despite having to close the match on her 4th match point, won the 3rd set 6-2. With the victory, Clijsters claimed her 3rd title of 2010 and her ranking rises to #4, giving her her own quarter at the US Open.
Maria Sharapova, a finalist in her debut in Cincinnati. Pete Ziebron Images
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