Aussie Kim was Awesome Kim against Vera Zvonareva on Thursday. In beating the No. 2 seed 6-3, 6-3, Kim Clijsters advances to her second consecutive Grand Slam final, where she'll face Li Na.
Unlike the earlier semifinal between Li and Caroline Wozniacki, the outcome of this contest was never in question—a strange thing to say when the competitors are the second and third seeds. But the lower-ranked Clijsters proved why she was the favorite heading into Oz, striking her forehand as well as her lethal backhand. Clijsters also served well, allowing Zvonareva just three break points (she converted one). The Belgian broke serve four times. She had all the answers for Zvonareva's defensive efforts and offensive spurts, pressured continuously, and finished the match in 73 minutes. Her form was nearly flawless, and if she can replicate it against Li, it would take a monumental effort to stop her from winning her first Australian Open title.
Li and Clijsters have played each other six times, with Clijsters winning four times. Li won their most recent match, earlier this month in the Sydney final. In that contest, Clijsters took a 5-0 opening-set lead, yet somehow lost the match in straights. Based on her play today, don't expect that—the collapse part, not necessarily the running-away-with-it part—to happen again.
—Ed McGrogan