Clijsters cruises through Hopman Cup

5 January 2004

BRUSSELS – Kim Clijsters rocketed the Belgian team through to the first rounds of the Hopman Cup mixed teams event in Perth Australia, by beating Daniela Hantuchova over the weekend.

Clijsters cruised through 6-1, 6-2, leading Belgium to a 3-0 win over the Slovak Republic in Group B after Xavier Malisse won against Karol Kucera and he and Clijsters walked away with the mixed doubles.

Clijsters’ form at the USD 750,000 event, bodes well for the Australian Open – she puts her excellent performance down to a gruelling training regime she has been following while training in Adelaide.

Clijsters will have another chance to clinch the Australian Open title, due to begin in Melbourne on 19 January, after going out in the semi-finals last year.

The Fleming handed over her number one seed spot to compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne at the end of last year and is currently sitting in the number two spot.

In other play, Australia won 3-0 over Hungary in group B, while in group A of the round robin tournament, the French team composed of Amelie Mauresmo and Fabrice Santoro is tied with Russians Marat Safin and Anastasia Myskina.

Subject: Belgian news