Kim Clijsters Claims First Aussie Open Title

Kim Clijsters claimed her second consecutive Grand Slam as she was forced to come from a set down to beat Li Na.

Clijsters was competing for her third Grand Slam title since retuning to the game while Li Na was making history as she was the first Chinese player to feature in a Grand Slam final.

And it all went the way of the Chinese woman in the first set after a nervous start which saw her fall behind 2-0.

But Li regained her composure as she attacked the Clijsters serve to get the set back on level terms.

After saving break points on her own serve Li was pressuring Clijsters once again in game seven as she forced the Belgian to net a backhand to take a 4-3 lead.

Clijsters carved out another break point in the next game but couldn’t take advantage of that chance as she sent a forehand wide and Li held to edge further ahead.

And Li broke once again to the opening set 6-3.

The pair traded breaks at the opening of the second set before Li finally held in the fifth game to edge ahead 3-2.

But Clijsters finally seemed to be settling as she levelled at 3-3 before taking the next three games to level the match at a set a piece and take it the distance.

An early break for Clijster saw her move into a 2-0 lead until Li stopped the run of five games by breaking to get on the board in the final set.

But Clijsters was back ahead in game four as errors from Li saw her surrender her serve once again. Li, despite a valiant fight, couldn’t get back on level terms and Clijsters wrapped up a 3-6 6-3 6-3 victory.

Speaking to the BBC after the match she said: "I'm a little shaky still. Li Na was definitely a very tough competitor.

“She really brought it to me at the start of the rallies. I was on the back foot and leaning back - I don't like that.

"The first set, I thought 'Wow! This is going too fast for me!' It was tough. I felt in the second set she was getting a bit nervous. I was just happy I was able to pull it off in the end."

This is Clijsters’ first Australian Open win and her first Grand Slam title outside of New York.

The win sees her move up to number two in the world and moves to within 140 points for world number one Caroline Wozniacki.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw