![]() |
|
| Saturday, October 18 Upset opens the door for Henin-Hardenne Associated Press |
||||||||||
|
ZURICH, Switzerland -- Top-ranked Kim Clijsters was upset by Jelena Dokic 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 Saturday in the Swisscom Challenge semifinals, giving Justine Henin-Hardenne a shot at No. 1.
Henin-Hardenne reached her 11th final of 2003 by eliminating Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-4. She can replace Clijsters atop the WTA Tour rankings by beating Dokic on Sunday.
Henin-Hardenne won seven titles this year, including the French Open and U.S. Open, and is currently ranked a career-high No. 2. She could have overtaken Clijsters last week but lost to her in an all-Belgian final at Filderstadt, Germany.
Dokic, meanwhile, will be playing in her first title match of the season. She's fallen from No. 4 to No. 25 in the rankings and hadn't won four straight matches in 2003 until this week.
Clijsters completely dominated their opening set, sweeping the first three games in just six minutes, then breaking Dokic again for a 5-1 edge.
But Dokic's powerful forehand started sizzling in the second set, and she broke serve to lead 3-1 when Clijsters double-faulted.
Clijsters' error into the net allowed Dokic to break for a 3-2 advantage in the third set. Later, on match point, Clijsters sent a shot long.
Clijsters might have been bothered by the fall she took late Friday during a doubles match.
Henin-Hardenne has pulled out of a tournament in Linz, Austria, next week, citing fatigue. |
| |||||||||