MIAMI, April 3: Kim Clijsters’s resurgence continued here on Saturday as the former world number one from Belgium defeated second-seeded Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova 6-3, 7-5 to claim the WTA title at Key Biscayne. As she did at Indian Wells, California, last week, Clijsters made her championship run from the unseeded ranks, reconfirming her return from the wrist injury that sidelined her for much of 2004.

The 21-year-old shrugged off a rain delay of nearly an hour, then persevered as both players struggled to hold serve in a second set played in blustery winds under threatening skies.

After two exchanges of service breaks in the second set, Clijsters claimed a 4-3 lead with a remarkable break point, in which she managed to lob back a Sharapova overhead to keep the rally alive until the unsettled Sharapova missed.

Clijsters consolidated her advantage by holding her serve to love.

But her first chance to serve for the match came against the wind, and Sharapova was able to record another break for 5-5.

Clijsters gave herself that chance when she broke Sharapova to lead 6-5, a game in which the Russian led 40-15 and which went to deuce three times.

Although Clijsters failed to convert her first two match points, she finished off the match with two unreturnable serves.

Sharapova was the fourth of the top five seeds to fall in Miami to Clijsters.

Results:

Men’s doubles (final): Jonas Bjorkman/Max Mirnyi (SWE/BLR bt Wayne Black/Kevin Ullyett (ZIM) 6-1, 6-2.—AFP