Kim Clijsters Sees Off Sharapova In Cincinnati

Kim Clijsters had to battle back from a set down to beat Maria Sharapova at the Western and Southern Financial Group Women's Open in Cincinnati.

Despite a slow start at the beginning of the tournament the Belgian has played herself into some good form as she prepares to defend her U.S. Open crown at the end of the month at Flushing Meadows.

And while the fourth seed was the favourite going into the match it was Sharapova who made the brighter start and after some powerful hitting from both women it was the Russian who found herself taking the first set 6-3.

And victory looked close for Sharapova when she also got the vital break in the second set and had match points at 5-3 when the rain delayed play.

The break worked in favour of the Belgian as the momentum swung her favour at the re-start as she battled back to break and force the set to a tie break.

Once again Clijsters found herself behind in the break as Sharapova opened up a 3-0 lead> But Clijsters took seven of the next eight points to level the match at a set a piece.

With Clijsters now level the errors stared to creep into the Sharapova game as the double faults began to raise their ugly head. It was all Clijsters in the third set as a double break secured her a  3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 victory.

Speaking to the WTA after the match Clijsters said: I was so close to losing and then this dark cloud came. I thought I was hitting well from the baseline with her but my serve wasn't working well.

"During the delay I had to regroup and refocus, and when we came back to the court I played aggressively and turned it around. I'm really happy to win."

Despite a great match from Sharapova the Russian revealed that she has been suffering with pain in her foot and has withdrawn from the tournament in Montreal as a precaution.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw