Australian Open: Kim Clijsters backs Caroline Wozniacki to bounce back

Clijsters’ defeat of Wozniacki in their quarter-final clash in Melbourne not only ended her chances of landing a maiden grand slam title, but also meant the 22-year-old’s 67-week stint at the top of the world rankings will end on Monday.

Wozniacki’s lack of success in the majors has led to constant questioning of her status – Martina Navratilova said yesterday, “Nobody feels Wozniacki is a true number one” – and she did little to alter that perception yesterday in a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) loss which would have been even more comprehensive save for a second-set fightback as Clijsters wobbled.

But having been through something similar – Clijsters’ first grand slam title arrived two years after she topped the rankings – the Belgian offered support. She said: “She’s worked very hard to get where she is and she’s one of the most consistent players.

“People are almost blaming her for it (the system). That’s really absurd.

“I think she’s great for the game, she’s a great player and works extremely hard. She’s good enough (to win a major). It took me a couple of years and it’s taken other people a while as well. So it’s all a matter of experience, improving and trying to learn from losses and become better every slam. Then she will definitely get there.”

Wozniacki attempted to play down the disappointment and vowed to reach the summit again in the future.

“At the end of the year, we will see who played the best,” she said. “We are just in January. I will get it back eventually, so I am not worried.”

Perhaps more concerning for Wozniacki was the ease with which Clijsters cruised into a set and 5-2 lead on Rod Laver Arena.

The defending champion appeared to show no ill-effects from the ankle injury she sustained in her remarkable fourth-round win over Li Na – a match in which she saved four match points – and dominated from the outset.

Wozniacki eventually found some form to drag the match into a second-set tie-break, but Clijsters’ greater know-how on the big points proved decisive.

“I thought Kim started off really strong. She put me under pressure from the beginning,” said Wozniacki.

“I made a few unforced errors and she ran away with it in the first set, but I hung in there and kept fighting.

“I did what I could, but today it wasn’t enough.”

Next up for Clijsters is a semi-final against Victoria Azarenka, who, along with Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova – who were both in quarter-final action themselves this morning – will fight it out to take over from Wozniacki as the world No1.

“It’s going to be a tough match,” said Clijsters. “She’s playing extremely well and with a lot of confidence.

“It will be a completely different match than what I was up against today. I’ll have to play some of my best tennis to try to beat her.”

Azarenka moved through to her second grand slam semi-final – and her first in Melbourne – after hitting back from a shocking tie-break to beat Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.

The third seed from Belarus struggled to make any inroads against the more consistent Radwanska early on, but upped her game impressively to progress 6-7 (0/7), 6-0, 6-2.

“I think it was important to see how I could adjust after not playing really well in the first set,” she said.

“I completely turned it around so I’m really happy about that.”