Former world number one Kim Clijsters captured her second Indian Wells WTA title in three years on Saturday, capping a remarkable run in just her second tournament back from injury. The 21-year-old Belgian continued her stranglehold on American Lindsay Davenport by beating the world number one 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the final.
It was the 22nd career singles title for the Clijsters, who won her first crown in more than a year after missing most of 2004 with a wrist injury.
Clijsters fired five aces and hammered 37 winners in the two hour, five minute match in front of 7,000 at centre court. She made 30 unforced errors to Davenport's 35.
This was the 15th career meeting between Clijsters and Davenport with Clijsters now holding a 9-6 lead.
Saturday's final was also a rematch of the 2003 championship which was won by Clijsters 6-4, 7-5.
It was at Indian Wells last year where Clijsters suffered the wrist injury that lead to surgery in June.
Her first comeback attempt in October was thwarted after just three matches and she was on the sidelines until February, when she reached the quarters in Antwerp.
Davenport looked unbeatable early on, but Clijsters cooled her off by winning six consecutive games to take the first set. But after a second-set stumble Clijsters was able to bounce back in the third.
The turning point came in the sixth game of the third set when Clijsters broke Davenport's serve to take a 4-2 lead. She then held serve and broke Davenport again in the final game.
After playing flawless tennis through the first four games of the first set, the match ended on two errors by Davenport.
World number one Davenport was serving at deuce in the final game when she double faulted to get to match point. She then hit a shot into the net to hand the win to Clijsters.
Davenport broke Clijsters twice to start the match and extended her winning streak to 24 consecutive games. But once the streak was over Clijsters climbed back into it and used her strong serve and ability to run down every ball to wear Davenport down.
Top seed Davenport entered the match fresh off a stunning 6-0, 6-0 semi-final victory over Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova of Russia.