Clijsters downs Wozniacki for WTA title

1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in the season-ending event at Doha, Qatar.

The 27-year-old Belgian followed up her U.S. Open victory with a steady performance at Doha, showing few signs of rust despite playing for the first time since her New York victory last month due to an injury.

After Clijsters won the first set, Wozniacki upped her aggression and took seven of the next eight games to win the second set. She broke for a 1-0 lead in the first game of the third frame, but the momentum of the match shifted when Clijsters broke right back in the next game.

Clijsters fired an inside-out forehand winner to break again for a 4-2 lead, held easily for 5-2 and then breezed from there for the title. She continued to roll since coming out of retirement last year, winning all five of her finals in the span.

Wozniacki, who replaced Serena Williams as world No. 1 this month, fell short in her bid to land the biggest title of her career. The 20-year-old Dane has yet to beat such Grand Slam champions as Clijsters, the Williams sisters or Justine Henin.

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