Clijsters thrashes Rubin to reach Semi-Finals

By Chris Davies
March 14 2003

Top seed Kim Clijsters proved far too strong for 8th seeded Chanda Rubin booking her place in the semi-finals against Spanish veteran Conchita Martinez

Rubin never could handle the power and shot making of the Belgian losing to a 6-2, 6-3 scoreline, struggling with her serve which Clijsters hammered back even harder.

The 19-year-old Clijsters has reached at least the semifinals in all five of her events this season, including a runner-up finish to Serena's older sister Venus at the Diamond Games in Antwerp last month. Clijsters lost to the incomparable Serena in the semis at the Aussie Open.

The 2001 Indian Wells runner-up Clijsters will meet Spaniard Conchita Martinez in Friday's semifinal. Martinez, a former Wimbledon champion, breezed past South Africa's Amanda Coetzer with a 6-2, 6-1.

Coetzer, who titled in Acapulco two weeks ago, fell in just 85 minutes as Martinez converted 5-of-9 break points.

Martinez who is in her fifth tournament of the year is finally returning back to the form that seen her up inside the top 10.

"I didn't start the season too well in Australia. But now I have a better feeling of the court and it is great to be in the semi-finals. I'm playing great tennis and hopefully I can keep it up"

She now faces Kim Clijsters and added: "She hits much harder than Coetzer and there is no way I can play high balls.

(1) Kim Clijsters (BEL) bt (8) Chanda Rubin (USA)
6-2, 6-3

(26) Conchita Martinez (SPA) bt (16) Amanda Coetzer (SA)
6-2, 6-1