Clijsters toast of tennis world
September 14th 2009 09:08
THE fairytale is complete.
Everyone’s favourite tennis player Kim Clijsters stunned the sporting world today with victory in the US Open women’s final in her third tournament back from a 28-month retirement.
Clijsters’ 7-5 6-3 triumph over Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki was her second grand slam title after claiming the 2005 US Open in her last visit to Flushing Meadows.
She won the opening two games of the match against a nerve-stricken Wozniacki before the 19-year-old fired back to snatch a 4-2 advantage.
Wozniacki served for the set at 5-4, but was unable to close it out as Clijsters gradually improved from an error-riddled start to win the next three games – closing out the set with a powerful cross-court forehand that Wozniacki could not return.
The second set was a much more predictable affair.
The first five games went with serve as the windy conditions settled before a Wozniacki backhand error gifted Clijsters what was ultimately the only break of the set.
Wozniacki went into her shell – mixing only two winners with six unforced errors in the set – while Clijsters, in her sixth grand slam final, cracked 20 of her 36 winners for the match.
An overhead winner into the open court sealed Clijsters’ dream comeback that no-one, including the Belgian, saw coming.
A tearful Clijsters ventured into the stands to embrace family and friends, including husband and former professional basketball player Brian Lynch and her 19-month-old daughter Jada.
The 26-year-old became the first unseeded player and first wildcard to claim the US Open and the first mother since Australian Evonne Goolagong in 1980 – and third overall – to win a grand slam championship.
Clijsters will also rejoin the world’s top 20 when the new rankings are released.
The former world No.1 will never be spoken about in the same breath as Serena Williams when all is said and done, but she has proven that popular and winner can go in the same sentence.
Williams is an undoubted winner, but her disgraceful outburst at a lineswoman in their semi-final clash – that has already cost her a $10,000 fine with a possible suspension to come – will forever tarnish her reputation.
Everyone’s favourite tennis player Kim Clijsters stunned the sporting world today with victory in the US Open women’s final in her third tournament back from a 28-month retirement.
Clijsters’ 7-5 6-3 triumph over Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki was her second grand slam title after claiming the 2005 US Open in her last visit to Flushing Meadows.
She won the opening two games of the match against a nerve-stricken Wozniacki before the 19-year-old fired back to snatch a 4-2 advantage.
Wozniacki served for the set at 5-4, but was unable to close it out as Clijsters gradually improved from an error-riddled start to win the next three games – closing out the set with a powerful cross-court forehand that Wozniacki could not return.
The second set was a much more predictable affair.
The first five games went with serve as the windy conditions settled before a Wozniacki backhand error gifted Clijsters what was ultimately the only break of the set.
Belgian Kim Clijsters completed her dream return to the tennis circuit with victory in the US Open women's final.
Wozniacki went into her shell – mixing only two winners with six unforced errors in the set – while Clijsters, in her sixth grand slam final, cracked 20 of her 36 winners for the match.
An overhead winner into the open court sealed Clijsters’ dream comeback that no-one, including the Belgian, saw coming.
A tearful Clijsters ventured into the stands to embrace family and friends, including husband and former professional basketball player Brian Lynch and her 19-month-old daughter Jada.
The 26-year-old became the first unseeded player and first wildcard to claim the US Open and the first mother since Australian Evonne Goolagong in 1980 – and third overall – to win a grand slam championship.
Clijsters will also rejoin the world’s top 20 when the new rankings are released.
The former world No.1 will never be spoken about in the same breath as Serena Williams when all is said and done, but she has proven that popular and winner can go in the same sentence.
Williams is an undoubted winner, but her disgraceful outburst at a lineswoman in their semi-final clash – that has already cost her a $10,000 fine with a possible suspension to come – will forever tarnish her reputation.
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