Clijsters beats Jankovic to win Sydney International

SYDNEY, Jan 12 (Reuters) Belgium's Kim Clijsters saved a match point before beating Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 4-6 7-6 6-4 today to win the Sydney International for the second time in four years.

Clijsters survived a match point at 4-5 in the second set as Jankovic twice failed to serve out the match. The Belgian clinched victory in the deciding third set after two-and-a-half hours.

Clijsters, one of the favourites for the Australian Open beginning next week, won the Sydney title in 2003 and is unbeaten in 2007 after starting her farewell year on the professional tour by winning an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong.

Jankovic had won nine matches in a row before her loss to Clijsters after capturing last week's Auckland Classic and winning her first four matches in Sydney.

REUTERS PDS ND1726