INDIAN WELLS (California), March 19: Kim Clijsters continued her remarkable comeback from injury on Friday, beating fourth seed Elena Dementieva to reach the final of the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters Series event. Clijsters, who had been sidelined for much of last year with a wrist injury, emerged the winner 6-4, 6-2 to earn her third appearance in the finals of this event.
“This is the happiest I have been to be in the final,” said Clijsters, who won here in 2003. “In 2003 it was great, but you don’t know how much it means until you haven’t had it for awhile.”
Clijsters beat American Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 7-5 in the final two years ago and lost a three setter in 2001 final to Serena Williams.
Clijsters’ victory sets up a finals clash with top seed Davenport who crushed Russian third seed Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-0 in the other semi on Friday.
In the men’s draw, Australian Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the semi-finals when American ninth seed Andre Agassi pulled out just hours before their scheduled Friday match with a toe injury.
Taking the court later in the day was the hard-serving Andy Roddick who squared off against Spain’s Carlos Moya in another quarter-final match.
Against Russia’s Dementieva, the unseeded Clijsters used her strong forehand to win the first set easily. She took advantage of an injury to Dementieva to win the second set and reach the final in just her second tournament back from injury.
“I think I just strained a muscle,” Dementieva said. “I hope it is OK. I have enough time until Miami to recover and feel better for the next event.”
Clijsters knows what it is like to get hurt here. It was at Indian Wells last year where Clijsters suffered the wrist injury that led to surgery in June.
Her first comeback attempt in October was thwarted after just three matches, and she was on the sidelines until February where she reached the quarters in Antwerp.
While many are surprised Clijsters was able to return to top form so quickly the 21-year-old Belgian doesn’t include herself in that group.
Clijsters broke Dementieva twice in the first set, including the final game. In the fifth game of the second set Dementieva injured her right leg and had to take a time out.
Dementieva called for the trainer and after a short break returned to the court but lost her serve to go down 3-1.
Dementieva got the break back in the next game but dropped the final three games to hand Clijsters the victory.
Davenport is now 42-9 at Indian Wells as she is trying to become a three-time winner in the California desert.
This marked the second time Davenport has won a match in Indian Wells without dropping a game, but the first time she has beaten a top 10 player so easily. Last year she beat Maria Santangelo 6-0, 6-0 in the second round.
“It was not what I expected,” said Davenport, who won here in 2000 and 1997. “I have never double bagelled anyone at this level.
“I felt confident walking out on the court. I was trying to play smart with the wind and when I got the first break it gave me a lot of confidence.”
The outcome was even more shocking because Sharapova had won both previous meetings between the two.
In 2004, Sharapova won 2-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the semi-finals of Wimbledon and earlier this year she beat Davenport 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in Tokyo.
Sharapova said this was the first 6-0, 6-0 loss of her career. Her previous most lopsided loss was also in Indian Wells where she lost 6-0, 6-2 to Monica Seles three years ago.
Sharapova made 25 unforced errors to Davenport’s nine had three double faults to Davenport’s one.
Results:
Men (quarterfinals): Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt Andre Agassi (USA) walkover; Andy Roddick (USA) bt Carlos Moya (ESP) 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-1
Women (semifinals): Lindsay Davenport (USA bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x3) 6-0, 6-0; Kim Clijsters (BEL) bt Elena Dementieva (RUS 6-4, 6-2.
