Sport

Clijsters has to dig deep for win

TENNIS : Kim Clijsters overcame a mid-match crisis and a bout of crippling nerves to climb past Russian Anastasia Myskina 6-…

Thu Jan 29 2004 - 00:00

TENNIS: Kim Clijsters overcame a mid-match crisis and a bout of crippling nerves to climb past Russian Anastasia Myskina 6-2 7-6 and into the Australian Open semi-finals yesterday.

The Belgian, a semi-finalist here last year and runner-up at the French and US Opens in 2003, will play Patty Schnyder for a place in the final after the Swiss ended Lisa Raymond's giant-killing run with a 7-6 6-3 win.

Clijsters needed treatment from a trainer for her left ankle injury and six match points before finally burying the tenacious Myskina, who lost to Clijsters at the same stage here last year. The world number two swept through the first set in 26 minutes and looked to be well in control before quickly falling behind in the second set.

Myskina jumped to a 4-0 lead before the second seed could register another game. Clijsters called the trainer at 4-1 down after her ankle injury began troubling her and then got back on track.

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Sixth seed Myskina missed three set points while leading 5-3 and then seemed to self-destruct, allowing Clijsters back into the match. Clijsters netted on two match points while leading 6-5 and the set went to a tiebreak. She needed four more match points in the tiebreak before clinching the win 11-9.

Schnyder, the 22nd seed, had not made it past the quarter-finals of a major tournament in nine years and was thrilled by the victory.

"Yeah, it's enormous. I'm playing much better. In the 2002 season, I played the best matches of my career. I really felt that my game was there - I beat Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and the number one of the world, (Jennifer) Capriati," Schnyder said.

"My game was there, but I couldn't play it consistent. I mean, I don't know if that happens this year.

"I'm just happy to have a great run at a grand slam. And that was my goal for this season," she said.

Raymond, the 25th seed, caused the biggest upset of the tournament when she ousted third seed Venus Williams in the third round with a dazzling and dominant performance. But the American doubles specialist was defensive and erratic against Schnyder.