Cjlisters edges Henin in Brisbane final

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Kim Clijsters took a tight three-set victory Saturday over Justine Henin in the all-Belgian title match of the Brisbane International in Australia.

Clijsters defeated Henin, who was playing in her first tournament since ending a 19-month retirement, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6) in a marathon match that took 2 hours 24 minutes. Both players won 109 points and had six service breaks in the even match.

The victory was the 36th in Clijsters' career and second since she returned from a two-year layoff. She also won the U.S. Open last fall. Clijsters collected $37,000, which she donated to a local hospital, in Saturday's victory.

Clijsters had the advantage through the first half of the match, taking the opening set and building a 4-1 lead in the second but Henin ran off eight consecutive games and seemed in control at 3-0 in the third set.

It was Clijsters' turn to charge back, using a break to get back to 3-3. Henin got her final break of the day and was serving for the match at 5-4 but was unable to cash in on a pair of match points and the match went to the tiebreaker.