By Chris Davies
May 21 2003

Belgian Kim Clijsters won her first clay court title of the year by beating Amelie Mauresmo of France in a superb final at the Italian Open, Rome Mauresmo started well breaking Clijsters serve to lead 2-0 but was pulled back to 2-2 only to advance yet again with a 5-2 advantage. Clijsters who is world number 2 made far too many unforced errors which is unlike her.

She finally won her serve to come within only one break of serve from the French woman. The 4th seed stormed to 40-0 on her serve to gain 3 set points and winning the set on another unforced error from the Belgian second seed. The focused and very motivated Amelie Mauresmo wins the first set 6-3 with no stopping her at all this could be a big shock straight sets win for her.

Again Mauresmo storms into a 2-0 lead second set with Clijsters struggling on all areas in her game today but eventually pulls something together winning her serve but is still behind 2-1. Amelie will rise to the top 5 again come Monday overtaking Lindsay Davenport made hardly any errors at all.

The match seemed to go from Kim Clijsters who was one of the hot favourites to win this tournament having not lost a set this week had a little opening to get into the match at 2-3 thanks to some unforced errors from Mauresmo which were creeping into her game as Kim picked her game up. Clijsters finally broke serve for 3-3 then for the first time in the match went into the lead 4-3.

The second seed forced her game to rise coming within one game of winning the second set placing more pressure on Mauresmo with her serving to stay in the set doing so to bring it to 5-5 then she broke the Clijsters serve yet again to serve for the match.

The J&S Cup champion was a bit nervous letting Clijsters who hasn't won a title on clay this year gain a break point and won the point she did. Tie-break time with Clijsters sprinting to win the set 7-3.

Kim Clijsters wasn't in the mood after struggling throughout the first set and little bit through the second set storming through a third set 6-0. But credit to Amelie Mauresmo who put up a fantastic fight and is in fantastic form for the French Open eventhough she lost today she must still be one of the favourites for the title after beating Jennifer Capriati and Serena Williams.

The Belgians seem to be Queen's of the clay after winning back to back tournaments with Justine Henin-Hardenne winning last week in Germany.

Final Result

(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) bt (4) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)
3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0