Clijsters-Zvonareva showdown,again

Kim Clijsters moved into an Australian Open semifinal showdown with No. 2-ranked Vera Zvonareva.

Kim Clijsters moved into an Australian Open semifinal showdown with No. 2-ranked Vera Zvonareva,beating Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3,7-6 4 on Wednesday as air force planes flew in formation overhead as part of celebrations for the national day. Cannons went off earlier when Zvonareva started the Australia Day proceedings at Rod Laver Arena with a 6-2,6-4 win over Petra Kvitova.

The semifinal on Thursday will be a rematch of the last US Open final,where Clijsters won to collect her third Grand Slam title. Clijsters is the only Grand Slam winner into the womens semis,although shes still seeking her first major title on non-American soil. No. 1-ranked Caroline Wozniacki and Chinas Li Na meet for a place in the final from the other half of the draw.

I hope the experience can help me a little bit, Clijsters said. But there are some tough players out there,we have Nos. 1,2,3 still in and Li Na has been playing really well. So it is going to be really tough. I lost to Vera at Wimbledon last year,I beat her in finals of US Open. Zvonareva has lost the last two Grand Slam finals,including the loss to Clijsters in New York and to Serena Williams at Wimbledon. Clijsters was up a set and a break before Radwanska rallied,winning three straight games to lead 5-4 and have a chance to serve for the second set.

With six Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes flying overhead,Clijsters finally converted her fourth break-point chance to level it 5-5 and the set went to a tiebreaker. Happy Australia Day everybody, she said in a salute to her supporters.

Clijsters has now reached the semifinals five times in Australia. Her best run remains her run to the final in 2004,when she lost to fellow Belgian Justine Henin.

Henin retires

Meanwhile,Henin retired for the second time on Wednesday,citing an elbow injury that had dogged her since last summer. Today,the medical examinations are clear and the doctors are agreed that my elbow is too damaged for me to be able continuing with my passion and my job at a high level,Henin said on her internet site.

Henin,28,first laid down her racket in May 2008 before returning in 2010. After due reflection and following doctors advice the time has come to face up to the evidence and accept that this is the definitive end of my career. But it8217;s hard,very hard,as I came back with such desire, she said.