Mauresmo Wins 3rd Title in a Row at WTA Antwerp

"I had the chance to do it, but I came a bit short and I felt it in my legs," Clijsters said.

It was the third consecutive tournament win for Mauresmo after the Australian Open and Paris, and brings her within striking distance this week of Kim Clijsters' No. 1 ranking.

"Kim played very well at the start and it took me a while to get into the game, to get back even," Mauresmo said. "We both gave it our maximum."

Clijsters was not expected to play at Antwerp, but came back early from an ankle injury early to star in her homecountry event.

It was the third consecutive win for Mauresmo over Clijsters, and the third consecutive match where Clijsters was suffering some additional drama that kept her from playing at 100 percent.

Mauresmo first ended seven defeats in a row at the hands of Clijsters at last year's Tour Championships, where Clijsters mysteriously flew in late from Belgium then gave a jetlagged, half-hearted effort throughout the event. The next meeting was the Australian Open where Clijsters retired with the foot injury, then again at Antwerp where the foot injury restricted her fitness level entering the event.

In the doubles final No. 2 seeds Safina/Srebotnik defeated Foretz/Krajicek 6-1, 6-1, for their first title of the year as a team.