By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 21 2004

(Antwerp) Kim Clijsters defeats Myriam Casanova in two sets for a place in the final of the Proximus Diamond Games. The match lasted for 39 minutes. Clijsters was too good for Casanova and won 6-1, 6-2. Clijsters will meet Farina Elia of Italia in the final. Her game plan worked, as she wanted it to. Clijsters produced some good serves hitting 5 aces in the first set and one in the second. She explained that is was her plan to make Casanova run. To do that you need a good first serve.

Casanova could never find a way to break Clijsters routine and was prey all the time. It was just a matter of time, this time it took only 39 minutes before submission. The Swiss Lucky Loser Casanova had to prepare for her doubles match following her match in the semifinal.

Clijsters sometimes worries about her ankle, she is always happy when the pain stays away after a match.

About her opponent in the final Farina Elia she said that she used to go to her for advise when she just started on the Tour. She learned a lot from her Italian colleague and they became friends. “She is very professional and has a lot of experience”, she said.

About her game Clijsters said that you always have to adept to her game. From last week’s match, when they played each other in Paris, Clijsters had learned that she should wait a little longer with scoring the points. Try to be more patient and wait for the right moment.

After the final she will move into her new house with Lleyton Hewitt for the first time. Last Tuesday both players and Hewitt’s coach spend some time sightseeing Antwerp.

Just like Clijsters, Lleyton Hewitt also reached the final of the ABN Amro Tournament in Rotterdam Holland. The will have something to celebrate on Sunday evening but not with Champaign, Clijsters said she is not too keen on drinking alcohol.