In a close match, Kim Clijsters of Belgium has effectively knocked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark from her perch as World No. 1. In the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Clijsters defeated Wozniacki in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(7-4).
Wozniacki will now be usurped by either Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova, or Maria Sharapova, all three of whom are still in contention.
Clijsters dominated from the baseline for much of the match, and showed no visible effects from the twisted ankle she suffered against Na Li in the fourth round.
Clijsters seemed to have the match well in hand, leading 5-2 in the final set. But she dropped three straight games while seeming to struggle with her timing. Down 3-4 in the second-set tiebreaker, she won four straight points, closing out the victory with a forehand swing volley.
Clijsters, the defending Australian Open champion, will now face No. 3 seed Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals in what Clijsters insists is her final Australian Open.
Azarenka struggled in the first set of her quarterfinal match against No. 8 seed, Agnieszka Radwanska, losing the set 7-0 in a tiebreaker. She then pulled things together to win the final two sets, 6-0, 6-2.
