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Na surprises Clijsters for title

Li Na overcome the form book - and a torrid first 18 minutes - to clinch victory against Kim Clijsters at the Sydney International © Getty Images

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Chinese world No. 11 Li Na emerged triumphant from an unpredictable final against Kim Clijsters to win the Sydney International.

Na won in straight sets 7-6(3) 6-3, clinching the fourth title of her professional career, but the scoreline barely provided an accurate representation of a match that saw a number of dramatic twists.

Third seed Clijsters raced out into a 5-0 lead after just 18 minutes, only to be quickly pegged back by her opponent as the score was levelled at 5-5. In the tie-break that soon followed the Belgian once again opened up an advantage at 3-1, but eighth seed Na again rallied back and rattled off six unanswered points to clinch the first set.

The second set was only slightly less unpredictable, as the players swapped early breaks of serve before Na finally managed to open up a 3-1 lead. Games then went with serve for the remainder of the match, enabling Na to secure an historic success.

It was both the 28-year-old's first Premier title success - her other victories being at less prestigious International events - and the first such triumph for a Chinese player. The result was all the more surprising for the past record between the two players: Clijsters, who missed her chance to become world No. 2 with the defeat, had won four of their past five meetings.

"I am so lucky to win," Na said. "I'd like to thank my team. They are definitely the best team for me."

A total of 27 unforced errors were too many for Clijsters to overcome, but the Belgian was gracious in defeat.

"We've had some really tough battles in the past," Clijsters, who will be the third seed at next week's Australian Open, said. "I didn't play my best tonight, but she did and she deserved to win."

In the tour's other event in Hobart, home favourite Jarmila Groth beat fifth seed Klara Zakopalova 6-3 6-3 to book her place in the final against the unseeded American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who came from behind to beat China's Peng Shuai in three sets, 4-6 6-1 6-1.

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