Ana lost her opening service game in the Pat Rafter Arena and, after being unable to convert two re-breakpoints, she appeared to be overtaken by events. Ana was no match for last year’s runner-up and in barely 21 minutes, Clijsters majestically wrapped up the first set.
The 24-year-old needed to revitalize her game and called upon the assistance of coach Nigel Sears. The on-court consultation bore fruit straightaway as Ana broke the Belgian twice and earned a 3-0 lead.
Loudly encouraged by the Australian audience, Ana took her game to another level while Clijsters produced a very erratic display and piled up the unforced errors. The 24-year-old steamed into a 5-1 lead and then broke the world No.13 for a third time to level the contest.
Ana was determined to complete her first ever victory after Clijsters, having surrendered a a 5-1 third set lead against the Belgian in Miami last year. After she had broken Clijsters in the second game, she saved two breakpoints to surge into a 3-0 lead.
The momentum shifted once more after Ana could not convert a break point for a 4-0 advantage. This perhaps proved to be the turning moment in the final set, especially as Clijsters pulled back a break and seemed to have found a second breath.
The 28-year-old four-time Grand Slam champion rediscovered the range of her hammering groundstrokes and turned around a seemingly lost cause, winning six consecutive games to condemn Ana to a painful defeat.
Ana will now head to Sydney for the Apia International, which begins on Sunday.
Though naturally disappointed with the result, Ana found positives in the match: "To not close it out obviously hurts a little," said Ana.
"But on the positive side I was kind of dominating a great player like Kim, and that's very encouraging to see at this stage of the new season."
