Hantuchova upsets Kuznetsova at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, California, March 17 (Reuters) - Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia won her first title in five years when she upset second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-4 in the Pacific Life Open final on Saturday.

Number 14 seed Hantuchova won her maiden title at the same tournament in 2002, beating Martina Hingis in the final.

"There's something special about this place. I love it," Hantuchova told reporters. "I had exactly the same feeling like I had against Martina in 2002. I just knew that I was gonna enjoy myself out there, and not for one second I didn't believe in myself.

"I was just so confident from the first point, and I didn't really think about the score.

"I just went out there and tried to play my game and really just enjoying every moment on the court."

Hantuchova was brilliant on the day, ripping 27 winners and only committing 14 unforced errors.

Hantuchova controlled the court, serving powerfully and consistently, finding the corners with her groundstrokes and attacking Kuznetsova's second serves.

The Slovak came into the match with a 2-5 win-loss record against Kuznetsova and was beaten by her two weeks ago in the semi-finals of Doha.

Clijsters doubts she will play U.S. Open in her farewell year

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Don't expect too much from Kim Clijsters during her farewell season.

After pulling out of the French Open, the Belgian announced she also might drop the U.S. Open from her schedule because her honeymoon with American basketball player Brian Lynch is just weeks before the Aug. 27-Sept. 9 Grand Slam tennis tournament.

As for Wimbledon, she again plans to take it easy.

"I'll be doing some cooking and will be training a bit," Clijsters said Monday on her Web site.

The fifth-ranked Belgian could limit herself to about six events before bowing out at the WTA event in Stuttgart, Germany, from Oct. 1-7.

"Tennis is nearly over. A couple of more tournaments, saying goodbye mostly and then enjoying having fun with the other players," Clijsters said.

The 23-year-old Clijsters has been battling injuries for much of her career, and increasingly so over the last few years. In 2006, a left wrist injury prevented her from entering the U.S. Open to defend her title, and from playing in the Fed Cup final.