MELBOURNE // Kim Clijsters wasted little time in flattening Vera Zvonareva, the No 2 seed, 6-3, 6-3 with an awesome display of power tennis to reach her second Australian Open final on Thursday.
Clijsters, the Belgian No 3 see and the 2004 Australian Open runner-up, will face Li Na in Saturday's final after overpowering her Russian opponent in just 73 minutes.
"I lifted my level compared to my other matches," Clijsters said in a courtside interview. "I've played in a lot of big matches and you learn from them.
"I just keep fighting and try to be the last one standing."
Clijsters, lime green dress and visor shimmering in the sunshine, simply had too much power for Zvonareva's comfort, the three-times grand slam champion taking the first set with a fierce drive volley.
Zvonareva's big match temperament has been questioned in the past and her fragility showed on the key points, loose shots and fluffed volleys frequently letting her down.
The second set followed a similar pattern, Clijsters chasing Zvonareva all over Rod Laver Arena and the former world No 1 completed an easy victory with a delicate drop volley.
Clijsters, who also thrashed Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1 in last year's US Open final, will replace the Russian as the world No 2 with her seventh win in their 10 meetings.
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
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