Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters first faced each other nearly a decade ago in 2001 at the US Open. Venus won their quarterfinal encounter in straights set, and that would prove to be their first of eleven matches.
On Saturday in Miami, Williams and Clijsters will square off for the fifth time in a WTA Tour championship match.
[3] VENUS WILLIAMS (USA #5)
R128: bye
R64: d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU #40) 64 63 (1hr, 18min)
R32: d. Roberta Vinci (ITA #55) 61 64 (1hr, 10min)
R16: d. [19] Daniela Hantuchova (SVK #25) 16 75 64 (2hr, 19min)
QF: d. [6] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #9) 63 61 (1hr, 16min)
SF: d. [13] Marion Bartoli (FRA #15) 63 64 (1hr, 30min)
Total games: 100
Won/lost: 62-38
Sets won/lost: 10-1
Total time on court: 7hr, 33min
Average time on court: 1hr, 31min
Average rank of opponent: 29
[14] KIM CLIJSTERS (BEL #16)
R128: bye
R64: d. Petra Kvitova (CZE #65) 61 61 (53min)
R32: d. [17] Shahar Peer (ISR #20) 60 61 (51min)
R16: d. [4] Victoria Azarenka (BLR #7) 64 60 (1hr, 7min)
QF: d. [9] Samantha Stosur (AUS #10) 63 75 (1hr, 17min)
SF: d. [WC] Justine Henin (BEL #33) 62 67(3) 76(6) (2hr, 35min)
Total games: 98
Won/lost: 68-30
Sets won/lost: 10-1
Total time on court: 6hr, 43min
Average time on court: 1hr, 21min
Average rank of opponent: 27
Final Quick Hits
- Clijsters (2005) and V.Williams (1998, 1999, 2001) are both former champions at Miami; and have both already won singles titles this year: Clijsters (Brisbane) and V.Williams (Dubai, Acapulco)
- V.Williams and Clijsters have both been ranked No.1
- V.Williams (95%) and Clijsters (86.7%) are among the three leading players in terms of win-loss percentage in 2010 (the other one being Serena Williams (90.9%)
- V.Williams leads the Tour for most main draw match wins (19) this year
- V.Williams holds a 6-5 win-loss record over Clijsters; they are split at 3-3 apiece for matches on hard court; 4 of their matches have been finals, with the honors split evenly 2-2
- Both players have similar win-loss records in finals: Clijsters winning 36 of the 53 she’s contested (67.9%), while V.Williams has won 43 of the 68 she’s played (63.2%)
- Winning the title would take V.Williams past the $26m prize money mark, and $17m prize money mark for Clijsters
