Kim Clijsters is now one win away from regaining the No.1 ranking, after scoring a three set win over Kristina Barrois on Wednesday.
Clijsters, currently No.2, came out slowly against the 78th-ranked Barrois, losing the first four games and eventually the first set. But she got back on track, needing just 53 minutes from there on for a 4-6 6-2 6-0 victory. The Belgian won the last nine games of the match and 17 of the last 19 points.
"I knew it would take time to get into the rhythm and get the feel for the ball," Clijsters said. "Slowly I got into the match and started being more aggressive. It's nice to be in Paris. I love the court here and the crowd is so welcoming."
In the quarterfinals, Clijsters will face either No.5 seed Nadia Petrova or qualifier Jelena Dokic, who play their second round match on Thursday. Dokic won her first round match against Lucie Safarova on Tuesday; Petrova rolled past French wildcard Virginie Razzano on Wednesday, 6-1 6-3.
If Clijsters beats Petrova or Dokic on Friday, she will return to No.1 next week.
In the only other second round match, No.8 seed Dominika Cibulkova fended off a game Melanie Oudin, originally leading 6-4 5-3 but ending up closing it out in a tie-break, 6-4 7-6(5). Oudin was a semifinalist at this event last year.
Other first round winners were No.6 seed Andrea Petkovic, No.7 seed Yanina Wickmayer and Sofia Arvidsson. They play their second rounds Thursday.
5 comments:
Th whole world is keeping an eye on this match. The billion dollar question is Kimmi do it? Kim should had sent a message by destroying her opponent in the last round. It took her three sets. Now she faces the player that gave her her worst defeat in her tennis professional career. I say Petrova in tough three sets. What Kim should do is return the favor, destroy Petrova to send a message to the rest of players.
Wicki, Wicki, Wicki, won again. :) I just like saying Wicki.
Oudin had a lot points to defend in this tournament she reached the semis last year. I feel her ranking will end up somewhere in the mid seventies somewhere this year.
Did she do the 'Petko Shuffle" after she won?
Well Carlos, this is why we never jump to conclusions! She will now face Dokic! Intresting match, and I want Dokic to win so bad! But then, I couldn't survive another week of Caroline being world number one :P
Ahaha, well why not!
Oudin, needs good slam results to improve!
I hope she did :D
I didn't jump into conclusions that was an unforeseeable bracket buster! Said the man who ended up looking foolish hahaha. :P
Once upon a time I called Oudin "The Little Tiger With Big Paws" now the tiger looks declawed. :(
Ahaha, yes rather foolish!
Well the tiger has run out of bite, sadly! Oudin, to me, seamed like that player you can get behind and want to do well! Now your lucky if she gets to the 2nd round!
And some day I shall once again have my day in the sun. :P
Right again Captain!
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