The all-Belgian final at the Brisbane International lived up to expectations as both Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin fought hard until the end. It was Clijsters who prevailed after saving two match points over her longtime friend. The final score: 6-3, 4-6, 7-6.
“Huh, what a match! I think we set the bar pretty high for ourselves for the rest of the year,” Clijsters told the jampacked crowd at the Pat Rafter Arena.
“It’s a great tournament to start the year with. I couldn’t be happier with myself,” she added.
Both players are making major comebacks in the women’s professional tour. Clijsters was the first one to make a comeback, taking part in hardcourt tournaments, including the US Open last September.
She went on to win her second career Grand Slam title in New York, beating players such as Venus and Serena Williams. Henin followed suit, announcing her own comeback a few weeks later. The Brisbane International served as her first tournament.
Clijsters donated her tournament winnings to Brisbane’s Royal Children’s Hospital, an establishment she visited earlier this week.
As for her loss, Henin said that it is still her first tournament back and she’s happy with her performance.
“I have nothing to regret. We were both on the court wanting to win. It was just a good fight,” she said.
“But at the end I remember that it’s my first tournament back and I’m able to compete at a very high level,” she added.
