THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRISBANE, Australia — Kim Clijsters held on to win an all-Belgian final at the Brisbane International in a vintage finish over Justine Henin on Saturday.
Clijsters, only five tournaments into her own comeback which has already netted the U.S. Open title, saved two match points and then wasted three before winning 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6) over the seven-time Grand Slam titlist.
Clijsters started strongly and led by a set and 4-1 before Henin rallied.
Henin, playing in the top tier for the first time since she quit while holding the No. 1 ranking in May 2008, blew match points at 5-4, then saved three in the tiebreaker.
Then the 27-year-old Henin gave Clijsters another chance with a double-fault and her compatriot made no mistake the fourth time.
“Huh, what a match!” Clijsters told the crowd at Pat Rafter Arena. “I think we set the bar pretty high for ourselves for the rest of the year.
“It’s a great tournament to start the year with. I couldn’t be happier with myself.”