Match Preview

Match Preview: Kim Clijsters vs Fabiola Zuluaga

2^nd Round Indian Wells

Kim: First Round BYE

Zuluaga: First Round defeated Craybas (2-6 6-3 6-2)

Kim Clijsters and Fabiola Zuluaga have only met on the one prior occasion and that eventuated into a comfortable 6-1 6-1 win for Kim in the round of 16 at the 2000 tournament in New Haven.  New Haven like Indian Wells is played on outdoor hard courts, however that meeting was 2 and a half years ago.

73^rd ranked Zuluaga is a 24 year old Columbian who to date has played her best tennis on clay courts and at home in front of her home fans in Bogota where she has recorded three title victories the first in 1999 the second in 2002 and the third this year where she defeated last years French Open Quarter finalist Paola Suarez.  Zuluaga has also proven herself to be a very respectable hard court player as well, pushing world number 5 Daniela Hantuchova to two tough tiebreak sets at this years Australian Open.  Zuluaga peaked in the WTA singles rankings in the year 2000 when she reached a career high rank of number 42 however was forced to sit on the sidelines for most of 2001 recovering from two right shoulder surgeries for a rotator cuff injury as well as a fracture.  Therefore, 2002 was a comeback year for Zuluaga and she managed to finish the year at number 74 in the rankings.

Kim has been playing well over the last few weeks and if she plays to her regular hard court standard she should advance comfortably.  However Kim has played a lot of tennis already this year, making three singles finals and winning one along with 3 doubles victories, if Kim is tired Zuluaga will be right there to take advantage.  But given that Kim has had a few days off since her disappointing loss in the Scottsdale finale she should be refreshed and back hungry to go one better than last week. If Kim wins this match her points total will not increase as her current 17^th best result is 88 points from Roland Garros last year so Kim is going to most likely have to make the quarter finals in California to increase her point total and her lead over compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne. This match therefore is the first step towards eliminating the French Open from her 17 best results and ensuring that like at Wimbledon Kim will have zero points to defend.  Given that their only prior meeting was a comfortable straight sets affair for Kim back in 2000 when she was not as high a quality player as she is now expect a straight sets win for Kim, however don’t be surprised if Zuluaga may give Kim a little bit of a fright!

Prediction: Kim in two sets (6-4 6-2)

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