Clijsters blames fatigue for shocking 3-6, 3-6 quarter-final loss to Azarenka
Kim Clijsters admitted she ran out of "fighting spirit" as she lost to Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open yesterday.
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| Belgium's Kim Clijsters returns to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their Miami Open quarter-final match yesterday. Clijsters lost 3-6, 3-6. PIC/AFP |
Defending champion and second seed Clijsters was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by the eighth seed from Belarus, who is looking to repeat her 2009 title success at the WTA Tour event.
After battling from the brink of defeat to win against Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round, Belgianu00a0 Clijsters could not manage another comeback against Azarenka who goes on to face Russian Vera Zvonareva in the semi-finals.
Renowned for her tenacity, Clijsters conceded it just was not there against Azarenka.
She said: "I think tonight was going to be very tough obviously. But I just didn't feel good out there. Just mentally, physically, I didn't feel right.
"It has been a tough few last days. But not in a way that I should not be ready for that. I train hard enough to physically be capable of doing that.
"Mentally I just kind of feel like I didn't have any fighting spirit. It's obviously tough against someone like her.
"Against some lower-ranked players maybe it's possible to get through matches, but against somebody like her, not."
Azarenka was able to turn her attentions to her semi-final against Zvonareva.
"I have to play on a high level, because she's a very consistent player," Azarenka said.
