Clijsters on course for first slam
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Second-seeded Kim Clijsters stayed on track for her first grand slam title, beating Italy's Silvia Farina Elia 6-3 6-3 in the Australian Open fourth round.
Yet to lose a set, the Belgian is in devastating form despite a foot injury which had threatened to sideline her and will play Russia's Anastasia Myskina for a place in the semifinals.
Self-confessed tennis bad girl, Myskina survived another red mist to beat ninth seed Chanda Rubin 6-7 6-2 6-2 in Monday's action.
French schoolgirl Tatiana Golovin's amazing run at the first grand slam of the year came to an end, however.
The 16-year-old was thrashed 6-2 6-0 by American doubles specialist Lisa Raymond, the conqueror of Venus Williams in the previous round.
Clijsters had won all three of her matches against Farina Elia and never looked in any trouble against the Italian in their 73-minute encounter.
"I felt like this was good," she said. "I had to move well, move around a lot and I felt like I really enjoyed it as well."
Clijsters has conceded just 14 games in her four matches so far and remains well on track for her first major title after reaching the last four in Melbourne the past two years.
Sixth seed Myskina battled past Rubin after a scratchy first set and is looking forward to the Clijsters showdown.
"If I play like I did in the second and third sets, it is going to be a good match," the Russian said. Against Kim, you just have to do your best....I have to give like 300 percent. It is really hard, though because she is the best one right now."
Myskina then tried to explain what had driven her to distraction on court during her win over Rubin.
"He's kind of like a wall there...he has to show me something...show some emotions to me," grinned the Russian, referring to coach and former boyfriend Jens Gerlach.
"You know, yeah, I can get really angry sometimes...(but) he knows me; he knows that I don't really mean it...the whole thing that happens on the court.
"You know, I am the way I am. If nobody likes me the way I am, I'm sorry. But I think, you know, I'm really nice -- too nice," she laughed.
