London: It took a while but the real Kim Clijsters finally showed up on Court One at Wimbledon to topple fellow Belgian Justine Henin 2-6 6-2 6-3 in the fourth round on Monday. Neither of the Belgians, whose rivalry goes back almost 20 years, have won the grasscourt grand slam and after a dreadful start, it looked as though Clijsters would be the player left disappointed for another year.
"I was out there somewhere, but I'm not quite sure where," Clijsters, with a white towel draped around her, told a news conference. "I was just very overwhelmed in the beginning by the speed of her game. She was definitely overpowering me on every aspect of the match, I think. She was serving extremely well, returning extremely well."
A double-fault handed Henin advantage in the first game and she duly took the break before holding her serve to love for a 2-0 lead.
The eighth-seeded Clijsters continued to struggle with her serve and length throughout the first set. Henin's only scare in the first set was when the seven-times grand slam winner fell and hurt her right elbow. The 28-year-old, took a medical timeout for treatment at 4-1 up but was unable to tell reporters what the problem was.
"I really don't know what happened. I thought it was the tendon. We're not quite sure, so I'll have to wait probably a day or two... But it's quite painful now," said Henin who added that it had bothered her on her serve and backhand.
On a court that offered no respite from the sun except for the umbrellas proffered by the ball boys and girls during the changeovers, Clijsters finally found her form and length in the second set.
"I started to really feel more comfortable. I took some risks but I felt I was seeing the ball better, just hitting the ball cleaner," said the U.S. Open champion, who added that she had felt more comfortable on grass since her comeback from retirement last year.
The third set went with serve until the eighth game, when Clijsters, appearing to scent victory, hit shots that sent Henin scampering back and forth across the baking court.
The 17th seed finally sent a forehand long to go 5-3 down and leave Clijsters serving for the match, which she took in just under an hour-and-a-half when Henin hit a forehand service return into the net.
The pair, whose rivalry has mellowed since they both returned from retirement, shook hands and exchanged kisses at the net before Henin left the court managing a wry smile and a beaming Clijsters acknowledged the crowd. She will face 21st seed Vera Zvonareva for a place in the semi-finals.
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