By Etienne Stekelenburg
April 2 2005

Kim Clijsters wins her second consecutive final match. She defeats Maria Sharapova at the NASDAQ-100 Open final 6-2, 7-5. Belgians former No.1 won the Pacific Life Open last week after being injured for almost the whole 2004 season. Both players were having trouble adjusting to the windy circumstances at the Miami’s tennis stadium. Clijsters and Sharapova both lost their first service games.

Sharapova also lost her second service game and the Belgian leads 2-1 just before the rain comes down and play is suspended.

After de rain delay Clijsters takes the lead retrieving Sharapova’s shots with two Clijsters splits. Sharapova gets her chance winning the point but sees her smash ending wide for 4-2.

At 5-3 Clijsters is serving for the first set and sees Sharapova fighting back taking a 15-40 lead and ready to break. Clijsters picks up her serves hitting winners on the Russians return. On deuce Clijsters hits a winner for advantage and taking the game and the first set with another winner, 6-3.

In the second set both players lost their first service break. In the fifth game Clijsters takes the 3-2 with another break but Sharapova comes back breaking Clijsters’ service game.

Both players seem to be stepping up their game when the opponent is serving and Clijsters breaks for 4-3. In the 8th game Clijsters serves a love-game for the 5-3 lead.

Clijsters is having trouble serving out the match at 5-4 and Sharapova again break to tie 5 all on 15-40.

Again the receiver is ending up with winning the game when Sharapova lost a 40-15 lead. Clijsters comes back to deuce with saving another dropshot by the Russian. Trying to return Clijsters shot Sharapova hits the net. On advantage for Clijsters, Sharapova serves an ace for a second deuce. The Belgian get another breakpoint when she sees her opponents’ shot landing wide. Again it is deuce before Clijsters takes another breakpoint after Sharapova hits the net. The next netball hands Clijsters the break and the 6-5 lead.

Serving for the match for the second time Clijsters gets 2 matchpoint after a beautiful backhand cross. The next backhand ends in the net and they reach deuce when again finds the net in its way. On Clijsters third matchpoint Sharapova hits a return long and the comeback of Kim Clijsters is a dream coming true, 6-3, 7-5 for the Belgian victory and NASDAQ-100 Open title.