Kim Clijsters won eight of the final nine games to defeat Belgian rival
Justine Henin-Hardenne, 7-5 6-1, in the final of the US$1.3 million Rogers Cup to
claim her WTA Tour-leading sixth title of the year in Toronto.
Although the countrywomen had split their previous 18 career meetings,
Henin Hardenne has won all three in Grand Slam finals, including a 6-3 4-6 6-3
triumph in their last encounter, the 2004 Australian Open.
Seventh seed Clijsters broke her fourth-seeded opponent in the final game of
the first set, then did so again in the fourth game of the second set when
Henin-Hardenne double-faulted.
After holding for a 4-1 lead, Clijsters broke Henin-Hardenne a final time and
held serve to close out the match.
Clijsters, who missed much of last season with a left wrist injury, has won 35
of her last 36 matches in North America.
"I was seeing the ball really well today," said Clijsters, who improved to a
tour-best 49-6 this year.
"I knew I needed to be aggressive. There was a lot of wind out there. They
were not easy conditions."
Henin-Hardenne, who was aiming for her fifth title of 2005, slipped to 31-3
this year.
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