Kim Clijsters wins Australian Open title

Having dominated after overcoming a nervous start,Li won only three of the next eight games as triple US Open champion Clijsters marched to her fourth grand slam title in two hours and five minutes.

Li,aiming to become China and Asia’s first singles grand slam champion,blasted a wild forehand to concede the match and Clijsters shrieked and held her head in elation.

Clijsters was strong early,blasting an ace on the first point,then broke Li to love to charge to a 2-0 lead,sealing the break with a down-the-line forehand passing shot that clipped the net before bouncing out of the Chinese player’s reach.

Ninth seed Li won her first point after losing the first eight and sparked into life,attacking Clijsters’s serve with abandon and taking the break back after the Belgian slapped a backhand wide.

Li saved two break points at 3-2 down and punished Clijsters in the next game,chasing down a weak volley by her opponent to earn two break points and then pressuring the Belgian into netting a backhand to take a 4-3 lead.

Clijsters blew another breakpoint and belted a forehand wide to allow Li to hold serve and the Chinese pressed the advantage to bring up two set points with a searing forehand.

Li sealed the second set point with an imperious crosscourt forehand that passed Clijsters at the net.

The Belgian stormed back into contention by winning the second set 6-3 as Li became preoccupied with taking her frustrations out on the fans who came to support her at Rod Laver Arena.

Having charged through the first set in 38 minutes,Li stumbled in the opening game of the second,netting a backhand to give Clijsters a breakpoint,then double-faulting to trail 1-0.

Clijsters,her pea-green dress now soaked in sweat,again failed to capitalise,however,dumping a forehand into the net then a backhand to hand the break straight back.

The players each surrendered their serve once more as the pressure intensified on a balmy night in Melbourne,before Li finally held serve to lead 3-2,when Clijsters netted another shot.

Clijsters held serve to gain a jolt of confidence then ratcheted up the tempo at 3-3 to throw Li off her game.

Li saved one breakpoint but failed to put away a volley on the second and Clijsters blasted a winner to take the decisive break.

Li then exploded at the umpire and Clijsters took advantage of Li’s gloom,holding serve before sealing the set when Li dumped a backhand into the net.

‘Aussie Kim’

Clijsters said she had finally earned her nickname Aussie Kim. Now I feel you guys can call me ‘Aussie Kim’ because I won the title,the third seed said at the presentation ceremony,flashing a wide smile after winning her fourth grand slam singles crown.

I’m a little shaky still,added the third seed,a beaten Melbourne finalist in 2004,who had buried her head in her towel and sobbed gently after the win.

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 to 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.

Thanking everyone from the ball boys to a local dentist who repaired a chipped tooth before the start of the tournament,the 27-year-old working mum revealed her superstitious side.

My uncle came to watch me in Doha (at the 2010 year-ending WTA Championships) in the ugliest green trousers I have ever seen,laughed Clijsters,who has won three majors since returning to women’s tennis in 2009 following a two-year break.

I’m superstitious so I told him if he’s going to come and watch me he has to wear them and he was like ‘Oh God!’

But he wore them here so thanks,she said pointing to her box.

Clijsters will climb to number two when the new world rankings are published.