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| February 20, 2006 | Monday | Muharram 21, 1427 |
Mauresmo captures Antwerp title
ANTWERP (Belgium): Feb 19: Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo claimed her third title in succession when she beat world number one Kim Clijsters 3-6 6-3 6-3 in the final of the Proximus Diamond Games on Sunday.
It was the first meeting between the world’s top two players since an injury forced Clijsters, the U.S. Open champion, to retire during their Australian Open semi-final last month.
Mauresmo went on to win the Open, her first grand slam title. Sunday’s win was her third in a row over Clijsters and came seven days after her triumph at the Paris Open.
The Frenchwoman had to come from behind on Sunday after Clijsters broke her serve twice to take the first set.
Mauresmo punished the Belgian with a series of powerful forehands in the second set and broke through in the deciding set, going 2-1 ahead on Clijsters’s serve.
The world number two saved a break point in the next game before breaking the home favourite’s serve again to take the match.
A third win for the French player in Antwerp next year will mean she keeps the diamond-studded racket worth one million euros ($1.2 million).
Mauresmo now heads for the Dubai Open in the knowledge that if she reaches the final, she will swap places with Clijsters as number one.
Saturday’s semifinals results: Amelie Mauresmo bt Nadia Petrova 6-4, 7-5; Kim Clijsters bt Elena Dementieva 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
Clement’s dream week
MARSEILLE (France): France’s Arnaud Clement defeated sixth seed Mario Ancic of Croatia 6-4, 6-2 to win the ATP tournament here Sunday for his third career title all won in his home country.
The 28-year-old, who saw off world number two Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, said the result capped a memorable tournament for him.
Bangalore Open results
BANGALORE (India): Result of the 175,000-dollar WTA Bangalore Open final on Sunday:
Final: Mara Santangelo (ITA) bt Jelena Kostanic (CRO) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3
San Jose ATP results
SAN JOSE (California): Results in the 355,000-dollar San Jose ATP tournament on Saturday
Semifinals: Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt Vincent Spadea (USA) 6-3, 6-4; Andy Murray (GBR) bt Andy Roddick (USA) 7-5, 7-5
Buenos Aires results
BUENOS AIRES: Results in the 420,000-dollar ATP tournament here on Saturday:
Semifinals: Carlos Moya (ESP) bt Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4; Filippo Volandri (ITA) bt Agustin Calleri (ARG) 6-3, 6-4.—Agencies
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