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Kvitova tops Clijsters in final in France

Petra Kvitova, shown in a 2010 file photo from the U.S. Open, on Sunday upset top-seeded Kim Clijsters and won the WTA tournament in Paris. UPI Photo/Monika Graff.
Petra Kvitova, shown in a 2010 file photo from the U.S. Open, on Sunday upset top-seeded Kim Clijsters and won the WTA tournament in Paris. UPI Photo/Monika Graff. | License Photo

PARIS, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Petra Kvitova upset top-seeded Kim Clijsters in straight sets Sunday and won the GDF Suez Open tennis tournament in Paris.

Kvitova piled up five service breaks in the 6-4, 6-3 win over Clijsters, who nonetheless will take over the world No. 1 rankings Monday. It was the first time in three career matches that Kvitova even won a set against Clijsters.

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The title was the third for Kvitova, who also won a tournament in Brisbane, Australia, in January before the Australia Open. Counting a pair of wins in Fed Cup play last week, Clijsters, who won the Australian Open, is 16-2 this year with both losses coming in tournament finals.

Kvitova, however, was the better player Sunday. She had 10 aces and finished five of the 10 break-point chances while dropping serve twice in nine games.

Kvitova and Clijsters traded breaks in the first two games of the match but Kvitova was able to take the advantage with another break in the fifth game and capped the set by serving out at love.

The second set also started out with two breaks and Clijsters led 3-2 before Kvitova ran off the final four games, with a forehand winner sealing the final break and the match.

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