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9/30/2001
Clijsters Defeats Kournikova in Seat Open Quarterfinals
LUXEMBOURG (TICKER) -- Top-seeded Kim Clijsters
continued her march toward a second title in as many
months and ended Anna Kournikova's comeback from a
foot injury Friday with a straight-sets quarterfinal victory at
the $170,000 Seat Open.
Clijsters eliminated the fifth-seeded Russian, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2),
to set up a semifinal clash with No. 3 Amanda Coetzer of
South Africa, who outlasted Kveta Hrdlickova of the Czech
Republic, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3).
In Saturday's other semifinal, Slovenian qualifier Tina Pisnik
will take on American Lisa Raymond, the sixth seed.
Clijsters is seeking her second title in Luxembourg, claiming
her first career title here in 1999.
The 18-year-old also is pursuing her third tournament victory
of 2001. She won the Bank of the West Classic in California
in July and the Sparkassen Cup in Germany in September.
Kournikova had lost five straight matches since her return
last month from a stress fracture in her left foot before
advancing to the quarterfinals this week. She still is seeking
her first career title.
Coetzer, the 1997 champion, is looking for her second title
of the year. In March, she won the Mexican Open on clay.
Pisnik defeated American Meilen Tu, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5).
The 20-year-old will take on another American in the final
four after Raymond upended No. 4 Anke Huber of
Germany, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
First prize is $27,000.
Kournikova Loses to Clijsters in Quarterfinals
LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) -- Kim
Clijsters routed Magdalena Maleeva of
Bulgaria 6-1, 6-1 Sunday to win the
Sparkassen Cup for the second straight
year.
This was the second title of the year for the top-seeded
Belgian and the fifth of her career.
"Magdalena played a very good semifinal and I knew I
had to play hard from the start," she said.
Clijsters dominated her sixth-seeded opponent from the
outset despite a nerve injury in her right arm. She has
risen to a No. 5 ranking after reaching the French Open
final.
She earned $90,000 from a tournament purse of
$565,000.
Maleeva made the Leipzig final for the second time. In
1995, she was unable to play because of a stomach
illness and Anke Huber won the title.
In Saturday's semifinals, Maleeva upset second-seeded
Nathalie Tauziat, and Clijsters downed Elena
Dementieva.
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Clijsters Defeats Kournikova in Seat Open QuarterfinalsClijsters eliminated the fifth-seeded Russian, 7-5, 7-6 (7-2), to set up a semifinal clash with No. 3 Amanda Coetzer of South Africa, who outlasted Kveta Hrdlickova of the Czech Republic, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3). In Saturday's other semifinal, Slovenian qualifier Tina Pisnik will take on American Lisa Raymond, the sixth seed. Clijsters is seeking her second title in Luxembourg, claiming her first career title here in 1999. The 18-year-old also is pursuing her third tournament victory of 2001. She won the Bank of the West Classic in California in July and the Sparkassen Cup in Germany in September. Kournikova had lost five straight matches since her return last month from a stress fracture in her left foot before advancing to the quarterfinals this week. She still is seeking her first career title. Coetzer, the 1997 champion, is looking for her second title of the year. In March, she won the Mexican Open on clay. Pisnik defeated American Meilen Tu, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-5). The 20-year-old will take on another American in the final four after Raymond upended No. 4 Anke Huber of Germany, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
First prize is $27,000.
Kournikova Loses to Clijsters in QuarterfinalsLEIPZIG, Germany (AP) -- Kim Clijsters routed Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria 6-1, 6-1 Sunday to win the Sparkassen Cup for the second straight year. This was the second title of the year for the top-seeded Belgian and the fifth of her career. "Magdalena played a very good semifinal and I knew I had to play hard from the start," she said. Clijsters dominated her sixth-seeded opponent from the outset despite a nerve injury in her right arm. She has risen to a No. 5 ranking after reaching the French Open final. She earned $90,000 from a tournament purse of $565,000. Maleeva made the Leipzig final for the second time. In 1995, she was unable to play because of a stomach illness and Anke Huber won the title. In Saturday's semifinals, Maleeva upset second-seeded Nathalie Tauziat, and Clijsters downed Elena Dementieva. |