Still room for improvement - Clijsters
September 02, 2010 09:48:56 UK
Reigning US Open champion Kim Clijsters insists that her game is still improving despite cruising into the third round with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Sally Peers.
I still have a little further to go before I play my best tennis.
kim Clijsters
Clijsters (2.75 to win this year's tournament outright) has lost just eight games so far, but two of the three lost against Peers were on her own serve, and she admitted there was plenty of room for improvement.
The 27-year-old Belgian, who won the title 12 months ago just after coming out of retirement, also managed to get just 51% of her first serves in and committed 21 unforced errors.
"I just had to find my footing again a little bit," said Clijsters, who is seeded second this year behind Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki (2.10), the player she beat in last year's final.
"I felt as the match went on I got to read her game a bit better and moved a bit better, but I still have a little further to go before I play my best tennis."
Earlier on the third day Serbia's Ana Ivanovic (1213.00) revealed she feels close to rediscovering the form which made her world number one after also cruising into the third round.
The 22-year-old, currently 40th in the world after injury and loss of form, lost just three games on her way to a 6-3 6-0 victory over Jie Zheng.
"I remember a couple of years ago when I was here and I was saying, even though I'm number one I don't feel I'm playing as number one," Ivanovic said.
"But now I feel like I'm playing like a top-10 player, I have confidence that I can beat these players. That's huge for me."
Third seed Venus Williams (6.00) was pushed all the way by Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino, the two-time champion eventually recording a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 victory.
Maria Sharapova is in second round action today. Williams will now face another qualifier in the third round after world number 185 Mandy Minella defeated 32nd seed Tsvetana Pironkova for the loss of just four games.
"It was challenging, not just with the conditions, but also my opponent. She served so well and mixes up her shots," Williams said. "It seemed like every time I had an opening she came up with a big serve, so I guess I know what it's like now playing myself."
The women's second round concludes today with the highlights including top seed Caroline Wozniacki (1.02) v Kai-Chen Chang (12.00), Iveta Benesova (10.00) v Maria Sharapova (1.04), Jelena Jankovic (1.16) v Mirjana Lucic (4.50) and Julia Goerges (3.25) v Yanina Wickmayer (1.33).
All of the matches listed above plus a wide range of others will be available for In-Play betting.
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