Belgian tennis star Kim Clijsters fulfilled a promise to a dentist after finally lifting the Australian Open title Saturday.
After securing a three-set victory over China's Li Na on Rod Laver Arena for her fourth Grand Slam title, a beaming Clijsters treated the Melbourne crowd to an entertaining victory speech, beginning with an unlikely tribute.
"On Saturday before I got here, I chipped my tooth at the airport," the 27-year-old said.
"I went to a dentist here in Melbourne and he fixed me up really quickly... He just said thank me if you get to the final ... so I promised him 'OK, for sure, I'll do that.' So, thank you."
Clijsters won over Australian hearts during her relationship with the country's tennis star Lleyton Hewitt and remained in their affections long after the pair split.
After thanking her team and husband, former Villanova University basketball star Brian Lynch, Clijsters said she felt comfortable in the nation's affections, saying, "I now finally feel that you guys can call me 'Aussie Kim' because I won the title."
The third seed came from a set down to triumph 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and end Asian hopes of a first Grand Slam singles title.
The Belgian broke 11th-seeded Li four times in the second set and twice in the third to secure the win in 2 hours and 5 minutes. She adds the Australian crown to three US Open titles.
