Kvitova beats Clijsters to win Paris Open

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic continued her impressive season with victory over Belgium's Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters in the final of the Paris Open on Sunday.

World number 18 Kvitova, 20, won the match in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to claim her third career title and add a famous scalp to her growing list.

Clijsters had a neck problem and appeared fatigued after a triumphant start to the year, but Kvitova coped admirably with the pressure of facing such an experienced opponent, who was appearing in her fifth straight final.

Kvitova, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year and the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, secured her first break of serve in Clijster's opening service game.

The Belgian fought her way back into the first set but Kvitova broke again to go 4-2 ahead, producing 14 winners to Clijsters' five and taking a one-set lead with a love game.

It was the same scenario in the second set, with Kvitova procuring an early break before Clijsters fought back.

Clijsters appeared less mobile and less reliable with her serve than usual, however, and when Kvitova secured another break at 3-3, there was no way back.

Despite the defeat, Clijsters will be officially named the WTA's new world number one on Monday.