Clijsters cruises into semis

Kim Clijsters continued her march through the Australian Open to reach the semi-finals without dropping a set.

The Belgian fourth seed took just 61 minutes to sweep past Russian Anastasia Myskina 6-2 6-4, her fifth consecutive straight-sets victory.

Clijsters had to battle hard for the advantage in the second set as Myskina broke twice, but she is enjoying the form of her life at the moment and won the crucial break for a 5-4 lead that allowed her to serve for the match.

“I was struggling in my service games and my first serve wasn’t going the way I wanted it too,” she said.

“I just had to make sure that each time she broke me I broke back.”

Clijsters reached the last four here last year and will face either Serena Williams or Meghann Shaughnessy for a place in the final.

In a blossoming career, the 19-year-old has already reached the French Open final, where she lost to Jennifer Capriati in 2001, but is confident of going one better this time.

“I feel I am playing better this time. It was great for my confidence to win in Sydney and it is great to be here in the semis,” said Clijsters, who won four of her last five tournaments heading into the Australian Open.

Clijsters’ struck three times as many winners as 21-year-old Myskina in a victory that guarantees two America v Belgium semi-finals.

Justine Henin-Hardenne and Venus Williams will meet in the other after both won in straight sets yesterday.