Clijsters beats Zvonareva

Last year's champion Kim Clijsters, playing in her first tournament since a two-month break through injury, battled past Russia's Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the Hasselt Cup.

The Belgian world number six will face Kaia Kanepi on Sunday after the Estonian qualifier reached her first-ever WTA tour final with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Michaella Krajicek of the Netherlands in the first semi-final earlier on Saturday.

Top seed Clijsters continued her good form since damaging her left wrist but was given her first real test of the week by Zvonareva, ranked 25 in the world.

Clijsters

had to wait until the ninth game before making a breakthrough when she managed to break the Russian's serve before going on the take the opening set.

But the home crowd were given a fright in the second set when Zvonareva, the sixth seed, broke the Belgian's serve and moved into a 3-1 lead before going on to secure the second set.

Clijsters regained her composure in the final set before finally seeing off her opponent in just under two hours with two breaks of serve.

Earlier on Saturday, world 91 Kanepi caused yet another shock when she outclassed Krajicek, ranked 50 places above her.

Source: REUTERS
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