Clijsters defeats Li

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP):

Kim Clijsters believes she's now earned the nickname she had for years in Australia.

"I finally feel like you guys can call me 'Aussie Kim' because I won the title," a teary Clijsters said after beating China's Li Na 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 last night to capture her first Australian Open. "It's nice to finally get it this year."

Clijsters lost the 2004 Australian Open final to Justine Henin and lost four times in the semi-finals. This was Clijsters' fourth Grand Slam tournament championship, but the first apart from the U.S. Open.

Li was trying to become the first Asian to win a major.