Clijsters caps campaign with crown
DOHA, Qatar — A day after escaping unscathed from a minor car accident, U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters defeated top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 Sunday to win the WTA Championships.
The 27-year-old Belgian won her third season-ending event and fifth title of the season. Clijsters played her first tournament since winning her third U.S. Open title in September, sidelined because of an infected foot.
“I'm glad I won and it must be disappointing for Caroline,” Clijsters said during the presentation of the Billie Jean King trophy and check for $1.4 million. “But I don't know how many more years I'm going to keep doing this.”
Clijsters showed no ill effects from a fender-bender Saturday before her semifinal match at the Khalifa Complex. Clijsters said she was not injured, but her manager suffered minor cuts.
Clijsters won her 40th career title after collecting wins in Brisbane, Miami, Cincinnati and at the U.S. Open this year. She became the fifth player in WTA history to win the season-ending tournament three or more times, joining Martina Navratilova (8), Steffi Graf (4) and Monica Seles (3).
The 20-year-old Wozniacki took over the No. 1 ranking from the injured Serena Williams last month, but was unable to back it up with a win in Doha and is still without a Grand Slam title.
Wozniacki has won the most tournaments this year six but has yet to win a major tournament. She's still looking for wins against Clijsters, Justine Henin, Venus and Serena Williams.
“I've had a fantastic year,” Wozniacki said. “I won six tournaments. I've beaten so many good players. You know, you cannot win every match. I've made the finals of the championships, and I lost one match today.
“I will come back in the off-season and train, but right now I'm proud of my season.”
Clijsters said the Dane has shown great promise.
“She will win a Grand Slam. She is too good of a player not to,” Clijsters said. “She's young. She's No. 1. She's been doing really good things, and the good things will keep coming.”