MADRID: Reigning champion Amelie Mauresmo of France beat Belgian Kim Clijsters 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Saturday to book a showdown in the final of the WTA Tour Championship with Justine Henin-Hardenne.   

There was nothing to separate the two players until Mauresmo got the crucial break in the deciding set to go 5-3 up after a failed line-call challenge from Clijsters and then served out for victory to give her a chance to defend her title.   


Earlier, Henin-Hardenne booked her place in the final when she ended Maria Sharapova''s 19-match winning streak and clinched the year-end number one spot with a 6-2 7-6 win over the 19-year-old Russian.   

 

Mauresmo beat Henin-Hardenne to win both the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year.