Melbourne, Jan 29 (DPA) Kim Clijsters rallied to beat high-flying Chinese Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 Saturday for her first Australian Open title and fourth overall at Grand Slams.
The Belgian Clijsters, who came out of retirement in 2009, won six games in a row from 3-2 down in the second set to 2-0 up in the third en route to victory in 2 hours 5 minutes. Her previous titles at the majors all came at the US Open, in 2005, 2009 and 2010.
Clijsters will rise from third to second in the next rankings. Li, the first Chinese to reach a Grand Slam singles final, suffered her first defeat of the year but will move from 11th to a career-high number seven.