Twice Sony Ericsson Open champion, Kim Clijsters, this time went out in the third round, to her fellow Belgian Yanina Wickmayer. Before losing 6-4 7-6(5) Clijsters saved six match points late in the second set. In the previous rounds Clijsters also had tough battles, against Jarmila Gajdosova and Julia Goerges.
Miami was Clijsters’ first tournament since the Australian Open in January, and although she gave credit to Wickmayer for her consistency throughout the match, Clijsters found it frustrating that she wasn’t far from having victory in sight even though she was playing with less than 50% of her abilities. Clijsters also regrets not using Wickmayer’s nervousness at the end of the match, and Wickmayer earned her first victory over Clijsters.
Big names besides Clijsters were all through to the fourth round in straight sets on Saturday: Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, Samantha Stosur, Li Na, and Sabine Lisicki. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
