Clijsters crowned champion in Cincinnati

Fourth seed Kim Clijsters overcame three match points to beat 10th seed Maria Sharapova in the final of the Cincinnati Open last night.

The Belgian, who made her return to tennis at this event 12 months ago after a two-year break from the sport, was staring defeat in the face after losing her first set of the tournament and trailing 3-5 in the second.

But the Russian passed up three championship points and Clijsters rallied - after a 74-minute rain delay – to nick the second set on the tie-break en route to a 2-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 victory.

Clijsters admitted the break in play had been crucial.

She told wtatour.com: “I’m a little confused. I was so close to losing, then this dark cloud came and it changed.

“I guess I forgot my serve back in the hotel, so I went back to the hotel, got it quickly... I felt I was hitting well from the baseline with her but just my serve wasn’t working at all.

“I had to regroup and focus and be aggressive when I came out (after the rain delay) because it could have been over very quickly, but I was happy to turn it around and be playing some really good baseline tennis.”