Clijsters can expect fans' backing

Bereft of local interest after Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis made untimely departures from the Australian Open on Australia Day, the Rod Laver Arena crowd will lend full support towards Kim Clijsters, their adopted tennis daughter, in the women’s final.

It is another all-Belgian affair, the third in four Grand Slams, between world number one Justine Henin-Hardenne and Hewitt’s fiancée, ‘Aussie Kim’.

She may be from Bree, north-east Belgium border, but Clijsters has always considered the Australian Open her home Grand Slam. It is certainly where she receives the heartiest backing.

“To get to the final in Paris and the US Open was a great effort but to get to the final here means a lot more to me,” she said, addressing the swooning crowd after her semi-final win over Patty Schnyder.

One dissenting voice dared to cry out: “She’s Belgian”. He was in a definite minority.

Clijsters has embraced life in Australia. Last year she travelled down to watch Hewitt in Australia’s epic Davis Cup triumph over Switzerland and has been here since before the November final, against Spain.

The 20-year-old has even grown to enjoy the Vegemite sandwich and become firm friends with Adelaide Crows Aussie Rules player Andrew McLeod, his wife Rachel and their boy Connor.

But that does not mean Clijsters has turned her back on her homeland.

“I feel at ease when I am in Australia, but I couldn’t live in Australia for 12 months,” said Clijsters, who has just finished building a villa back home in Bree.

The world number two rebuffed suggestions she could play Fed Cup for Australia and even revealed she would not become Kim Hewitt or even Kim Clijsters-Hewitt.

For just as she loves Australia as much as the feeling is reciprocated, Belgium will always be home and to play Henin-Hardenne in a third Grand Slam final is an immense source of pride.

“I have got so much respect for her (Henin-Hardenne), I admire her very much, on and off the court,” said Clijsters.

“It is incredible how small Belgium is and to have two players like us to come through at such a young age. We both work really hard and deserve to be here.”

Clijsters was comfortably beaten by Henin-Hardenne in the final of both the French Open (6-0 6-4) and US Open (7-5 6-1) last year and hopes Melbourne will prove “third time lucky”.

Much could depend on her injured ankle, which threatened her very participation here after she withdrew from the adidas International.

It required further treatment during the quarter-final victory over Anastasia Myskina but Clijsters has been reassured she cannot make the injury worse.

Certain she can handle any pain, that reduced preparation could well prove to her advantage as Clijsters seeks her maiden Grand Slam crown.

“In the two previous Grand Slams I was a little bit exhausted at the end,” said Clijsters, laughing off suggestions Henin-Hardenne held the mental edge.

“That is something I have learned. I have really enjoyed playing my doubles and getting number one was very special for me. I am happy with what I did last year.

“But I have done that now. I have become a little bit smarter in a way and you learn things every year. I am feeling good. I am really looking forward to getting out there.”

Facing the world number one will by its very nature, be a tough assignment. Henin-Hardenne has the recent history, she is a ruthless competitor, a savage hitter with the finest backhand in the game.

“I feel good. I have won all my matches in two sets. I have confidence, it is great to be in the final,” Henin-Hardenne said.