Clijsters progresses
Kim Clijsters booked her place in the second round with a 7-5 6-3 victory over Vera Zvonareva – but the number two seed had to fight for every point.
Clijsters was given a thorough workout by the Russian, ranked 44 in the world, who refused to be overwhelmed despite her opponent’s superior range of shots.
Some thrilling rallies lit up Court One but Clijsters’ extra class and power eventually told and the 23-year Belgian wrapped up a deserved victory.
The two met in the second round of Eastbourne last week only for Zvonareva to retire hurt with a foot injury after just three games with Clijsters eventually losing in the semi-finals.
Their Wimbledon showdown resumed this afternoon with Clijsters 5-4 ahead before rain had halted play yesterday, but she surrendered the initiative with a nervy start.
Zvonareva claimed three break points, winning the third, only to be broken back following a breathtaking rally which Clijsters settled with an imperious forehand.
The Belgian’s power told again in the 12th as Zvonareva was over-powered from the baseline and Clijsters held her serve with an athletic finish at the net to clinch the opening set 7-5.
Clijsters, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2003, made an ominous start to the second set as she easily broke Zvonareva but she then had to battle hard to retain her serve.
The former world number one claimed a 3-0 lead but was being made to work for every point and Zvonareva took the next two games to peg her back 3-2.
An unstoppable forehand allowed Clijsters to break again but she then waisted two match points as her 21-year-old opponent continued to resist.
Zvonareva finally succumbed in the ninth when she double faulted to give Clijsters a match point and then found the net to end her Wimbledon.
Clijsters will now meet Ukrainian Viktoria Kutuzova in the second round.
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