© AP
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Kim Clijsters lost in the first round of the WTA tournament in Chicago to Su-Wei Hsieh, the number 97 in the world: 6-3, 5-7 and 6-3. The Limburger showed high quality tennis at times and showed himself mentally strong, but gave up a hard-fought match due to too much unforced errors. For Clijsters it is the fourth loss in a row after she made her comeback in February 2020.
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Wim Conings
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ALSO READ. Kirsten Flipkens also does not get past the first round at the WTA tournament in Chicago
Clijsters immediately seemed to take the lead against Su-Wei Hsieh, the Taiwanese doubles partner of Elise Mertens and the number 97 on the WTA ranking. In no time she ran out to 0-3. But then it collapsed. Although the Limburg ones dominated the game, more and more were demolished unforced errors at her game. Game after game slipped out of her hands and after forty minutes Su-Wei Hsieh had won six games in a row: 6-3.
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A sledgehammer blow for Clijsters, who made her frustration visible with a disposable gesture. Despite a difficult start to the second set, the former number one in the world fought back. Clijsters broke to a 3-4 lead, immediately gave away another break and was in the back of trouble at 5-4, but then brought out impressive tennis. She won the second set 5-7.
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54th unforced error is too much
The third and decisive set followed the same course: many winners but also many unforced errors for Clijsters. Su-Wei Hsieh managed to run out to 4-2, Clijsters broke back, but then gave up on her own serve while she had been leading 40-15. Su-Wei Hsieh came to 5-3, was allowed to serve for the match and won the game after the 54th unforced error from our compatriot.
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Since her comeback in February 2020, Clijsters had only played three times due to injuries and corona. At the 2020 US Open, she lost 3-6, 7-5 and 6-1 in the first round to Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova (WTA-34). She had previously lost 6-2 and 7-6 (8/6) to the Spanish Garbine Muguruza (WTA-9) in Dubai and 6-3 and 7-5 to the British Johanna Konta (WTA-81) in Moterrey. .
Clijsters was able to participate in the WTA tournament in Chicago because she had received a wild card from the organization. Kirsten Flipkens (WTA 135) also came into action on Monday, against American Danielle Collins (WTA 28). ‘Flipper’ lost 6-4 and 6-2. Clijsters and Flipkens also form a duo in the doubles. They will meet the Polish tandem Magdalena Frech-Katarzyna Kawa in the first round.
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