Brave Heart - “Built Belgian tough” might become a badge of honour for future tennis generations after courageous Kim Clijsters' win over Li Na on Sunday, while Roger Federer dashed the dreams of home fans by crushing Bernard Tomic. On a day when the temperature ...

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POSTED BY EIZ ON THURSDAY, 19 JANUARY, 2012, 7:14 AM
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“Built Belgian tough” might become a badge of honour for future tennis generations after
courageous Kim Clijsters' win over Li Na on Sunday, while Roger Federer dashed the dreams of
home fans by crushing Bernard Tomic. On a day when the temperature ...
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BRAVEHEART
POSTED BY EIZ ON THURSDAY, 19 JANUARY, 2012, 7:14 AM
“Built Belgian tough” might become a
badge of honour for future tennis
generations after courageous Kim
Clijsters’ win over Li Na on Sunday, while
Roger Federer dashed the dreams of
home fans by crushing Bernard Tomic. On
a day when the temperature soared, Rafa
Nadal won a battle of Spanish lefties
against Davis Cup teammate Feliciano
Lopez, and Tomas Berdych was booed
mercilessly for a petulant show of bad
sportsmanship.
Defending champion Clijsters crumpled to the court at 3-3 in the first set after her left ankle rolled
sickeningly over. Bidding farewell to the Australian Open in the final year of her career, the Belgian
had her ankle strapped and Li took advantage to win the first set.
The 28-year-old Belgian clawed her way back to win the second set in a tiebreak as the crowd
began to believe she could pull off the win. Clijsters closed out the match 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 to keep her
hopes alive of a fifth grand slam title.
"It definitely crossed my mind at some point, but I knew if I could just try to let the medication sink
in ... the pain would go away a little bit and maybe with the adrenaline I could just fly through it," she
said.
Clijsters was joined in the quarterfinals by number three seed Victoria Azarenka who Iveta
Benesova 6-2, 6-2. World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki endured a nervy second set against Jelena
Jankovic before clinching a 6-0, 7-5 win.
Teen Tomic had already come through two five-setters to reach the fourth round while 30-year-old
Federer looked as fresh as a daisy in securing a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win.
In the day's only real note of controversy, Czech Berdych was booed off Hisense Arena after a bad
tempered 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 win over Nicolas Almagro.
Berdych refused to shake hands with the Spaniard after he sealed the win because he felt the
10th-seeded Almagro had deliberately blasted a return at his head during the fourth set.