ANTWERP — Amelie Mauresmo of France defeated Belgian Kim Clijsters in two sets, 6-4 and 7-6(4), in the Proximus Diamond Games final in Antwerp. This was Mauresmo’s third consecutive Antwerp title, and the tournament organisation will make sure the 1 million Euros gold and diamond racket is delivered to the address of her choice.

Mauresmo started out attacking Clijsters from the first ball in play. After Clijsters hit an ace at her first service, but a double fault put Mauresmo in the position to take the first break. Mauresmo kept on attacking and took the first service break. After holding on to her own, the Frenchwoman led 2-0.

After hitting two balls wide, Mauresmo handed Clijsters two breakpoints, but she came back to deuce after the Belgian hit the ball long and into the net on a service return. With winning a rally off Clijsters advantage, she took her third break point. Then she broke back with spreading the ball and finished off with a forehand drive volley winner, 2-all.

In the fifth game, Clijsters took the advantage but she could not convert it into a 3-2 lead. Mauresmo comes back and took the advantage but she could not take it. After the fifth deuce in the game, Mauresmo took advantage again, and this time she took the break with a solid winner. The Frenchwoman took a 3-2 lead and held on to her own service with a love game for 4-2.

Both players held on to their service game before Mauresmo was serving to win the first set on 5-4. The Frenchwoman won the first set 6-4, after playing a good service game where she only handed one point to her Belgian opponent.

At the start of the second set, Clijsters took a 2-0 lead after she won her service game on love and broke Mauresmo’s service game.  Mauresmo hit her third double fault on advantage for Clijsters.

Mauresmo took the re-break for 2-1 after Clijsters hit two double faults and made unforced errors. She held on to her service game for 2-all.

The second set went into a tiebreak after both players held on to their service game. Clijsters making the errors and Mauresmo took a 4-2 lead before changing sides.

Clijsters came back to 4-all with a solid backhand winner. She hit the ball into the net for 5-4. Mauresmo took a 6-4 lead after she hit an ace, which was questioned by Clijsters and the 14,000 spectators in the Sports Palace. Once the audience was quiet again, Mauresmo was able to serve for the match. Clijsters is trying to go for the rally but she hit her shot wide. Game, set, and match and the gold and diamond racket goes to Amelie Mauresmo of France, 6-4 7-6(4).

Written by Etienne Stekelenburg