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Li Na had plenty of support in Melbourne © Getty Images

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• News: Now you can call me 'Aussie Kim' - Clijsters
  
• Match report: Triumphant Clijsters denies Li historic victory
  
• Profile: Kim Clijsters | Li Na
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Triumphant Clijsters denies Li historic victory

A true Aussie
Kim Clijsters has always been a crowd favourite in Melbourne - and the popular Belgian was adopted as an honorary Australian during her engagement to Lleyton Hewitt. But despite reaching the semi-finals on six occasions, she had never claimed the title. "I finally feel like you guys can call me Aussie Kim because I won the title," she said to widespread cheers.

Returning the unreturnable
Women's tennis has received unwelcome criticism in recent years for one-sided finals, but Clijsters' win over Li was a high-quality and thoroughly entertaining encounter. As is her way, Clijsters did her best to dictate play, and was sending Li all over the court, ultimately to great effect. But on one particular rally in the opening set, Li simply would not be beaten, returning one shot wide on her forehand side before racing across the court to reach a backhand, then managing to get her racket on a smash - only for the disbelieving Clijsters to hit her ensuing backhand long.

Playing a backhand
Li had the Melbourne crowd in stitches after her semi-final win over Caroline Wozniacki, mocking her husband's snoring. But after the final she paid tribute to her other half, also her coach, Jiang Shan. "I make a lot of jokes about him but it doesn't matter if you are fat or skinny, I will always love you," she said. Bless.

Just wanted tooth thank you
Players traditionally pay tribute to their coaches, their sponsors and their families, but perhaps never before has a dentist got a mention. After thanking her opponent, Clijsters revealed she had treatment in Melbourne for a chipped tooth. "Before I came here I chipped my tooth at the airport and the dentist fixed me up so quickly and so good, he said, 'promise me if you get to the final you'll thank me'.

Rapid fire
With the Melbourne crowd having seen a cracking women's final, Bob and Mike Bryan clearly didn't feel any obligation to give the ticketholders value for money as they raced to their third straight Australian Open men's doubles title. The top ranked pair needed little over an hour to beat third seeds Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi 6-3 6-4.

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