TNT Sports
Clijsters in Antwerp final
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Published 21/02/2004 at 21:42 GMT
World number two Kim Clijsters and Italy's Silvia Farina Elia will meet in the Antwerp final after recording straight-sets victories in Saturday's semi-finals. Belgian Clijsters brushed aside Switzerland's Myriam Casanova 6-1 6-2 while Farina Elia had a tougher battle against Karolina Sprem of Croatia before winning 6-4 7-5.
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Clijsters, the second seed, eased through the first set in just 20 minutes and ended the match after being on court for a little under three-quarters of an hour.
"I am in my best form of the year," said the Belgian, who outclassed Mary Pierce in the final of last week's Paris Open to clinch her first title of the season. "For several weeks, I was hampered by a foot injury but that it now completely forgotten. I can play and practise without feeling anything.
"I played much better than yesterday against Magdalena (Maleeva) and this is the level of tennis I will need tomorrow in the final against Silvia Farina Elia," added Clijsters, who beat Maleeva 7-6 6-2 in Friday's quarter-finals.
In the earlier semi-final, Farina Elia patiently built her points and varied her shots against a hard-hitting opponent who attacked throughout.
"My patience paid off," the Italian said. "I am getting better and better at this tournament."
She broke Sprem's serve to go 4-3 up in the first set and held on to that advantage.
In the second set, Sprem upped the pace and went 3-0 ahead but Farine Elia calmly waited for the mistakes to come as she clawed her way back to 5-5.
The Croatian then lost her service and her cool, throwing her racket to the ground, before Farina Elia served out the match.
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