Serena explodes; Kim advances
September 13th 2009 08:56
A CONTROVERSIAL finish in Kim Clijsters’ rain-delayed US Open semi-final clash with Serena Williams resulted in the Belgian advancing to her sixth grand slam final today.
Tournament officials gave Williams a point penalty – effectively awarding the win to Clijsters – after she received her second code violation for the night when she was facing double match point on her serve.
The American former world No.1 launched an extraordinary tirade moments earlier at a lineswoman who had just called her for a second-serve foot-fault that left Williams trailing 15-40 and 5-6 in the second set.
Clijsters won the first set 6-4 and is the first male or female wildcard to reach a US Open decider.
See the vision here.
Williams’ first code violation came when she twice threw her racquet at the court – the second rendered her racquet unusable – after losing the opening set.
Williams later conceded she was “pretty sure (she had foot-faulted)” because “she (the lineswoman) called a foot-fault”.
It was Clijsters’ second victory over the 11-time grand slam champion in nine meetings.
Clijsters, who won her sole grand slam title at the 2005 US Open, is in her third tournament back from a 28-month retirement.
She developed a reputation for ‘choking’ in grand slam finals after losing the first four she contested and it will be interesting to see how she handles the expectation this time around.
A second grand slam championship – that would see her become just the third player to claim a major title after giving birth – would be the former world No.1’s crowning glory.
Clijsters will have to defeat rising Dane Caroline Wozniacki if she is to do so.
Wozniacki, the world No.8, eliminated Belgian teenager Yanina Wickmayer 6-3 6-3 in a match she was rarely threatened in.
The 19-year-old first-time grand slam finalist boasts an 11-match winning streak that includes her New Haven triumph on the eve of Flushing Meadows.
Wozniacki’s consistency and movement have earned her many plaudits this fortnight, but Clijsters will be a completely different proposition for her.
Clijsters’ speed and athleticism are almost unrivalled and she is in command on both her forehand and backhand wings.
Some experts have even described Wozniacki as a similar player to Clijsters in her teenage years.
Clijsters, barring a mental breakdown, should take the points – and the trophy – here.
Earlier, Spanish third seed Rafael Nadal needed only 34 minutes to complete his rain-interrupted quarter-final against Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.
The contest – that was evenly poised at 7-6 (4) 6-6 (3-2) in Nadal’s favour – was into its third day after rain completely wiped out the previous day’s play.
But Gonzalez imploded when the encounter finally resumed; making three forehand errors before dumping a backhand into the net on set point to hand Nadal a two-set-to-love lead.
More of the same ensued in the third set as an erratic Gonzalez was unable to recapture his high-octane best.
The 29-year-old instead drowned under a wave of unforced errors and six-time grand slam titlist Nadal took full advantage in closing out the match 6-0.
The Spaniard is now only two victories away from completing a career Grand Slam, having already won all the other three major championships at least once.
Argentine world No.6 Juan Martin del Potro awaits Nadal, who is struggling with an abdominal injury, in the semi-finals.
The weather-enforced rest period will no doubt have helped Nadal, but any lingering health issues will not help his chances against a rampant del Potro, who excels on American hardcourts.
Swiss world No.1 Roger Federer, the five-time defending US Open champion, and 2008 Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, from Serbia, meet in the other men’s semi-final.
Both men’s semi-finals and the women’s singles final are tonight.
Men's Day 13 results
Women's Day 13 results
Tournament officials gave Williams a point penalty – effectively awarding the win to Clijsters – after she received her second code violation for the night when she was facing double match point on her serve.
The American former world No.1 launched an extraordinary tirade moments earlier at a lineswoman who had just called her for a second-serve foot-fault that left Williams trailing 15-40 and 5-6 in the second set.
Clijsters won the first set 6-4 and is the first male or female wildcard to reach a US Open decider.
See the vision here.
Williams’ first code violation came when she twice threw her racquet at the court – the second rendered her racquet unusable – after losing the opening set.
Williams later conceded she was “pretty sure (she had foot-faulted)” because “she (the lineswoman) called a foot-fault”.
Belgian Kim Clijsters progressed to her sixth grand slam final from a drama-packed semi-final against American Serena Williams.
It was Clijsters’ second victory over the 11-time grand slam champion in nine meetings.
Clijsters, who won her sole grand slam title at the 2005 US Open, is in her third tournament back from a 28-month retirement.
She developed a reputation for ‘choking’ in grand slam finals after losing the first four she contested and it will be interesting to see how she handles the expectation this time around.
A second grand slam championship – that would see her become just the third player to claim a major title after giving birth – would be the former world No.1’s crowning glory.
Clijsters will have to defeat rising Dane Caroline Wozniacki if she is to do so.
Wozniacki, the world No.8, eliminated Belgian teenager Yanina Wickmayer 6-3 6-3 in a match she was rarely threatened in.
The 19-year-old first-time grand slam finalist boasts an 11-match winning streak that includes her New Haven triumph on the eve of Flushing Meadows.
Wozniacki’s consistency and movement have earned her many plaudits this fortnight, but Clijsters will be a completely different proposition for her.
Clijsters’ speed and athleticism are almost unrivalled and she is in command on both her forehand and backhand wings.
Some experts have even described Wozniacki as a similar player to Clijsters in her teenage years.
Clijsters, barring a mental breakdown, should take the points – and the trophy – here.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal moved into the US Open semi-finals with a runaway victory over Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.
Earlier, Spanish third seed Rafael Nadal needed only 34 minutes to complete his rain-interrupted quarter-final against Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.
The contest – that was evenly poised at 7-6 (4) 6-6 (3-2) in Nadal’s favour – was into its third day after rain completely wiped out the previous day’s play.
But Gonzalez imploded when the encounter finally resumed; making three forehand errors before dumping a backhand into the net on set point to hand Nadal a two-set-to-love lead.
More of the same ensued in the third set as an erratic Gonzalez was unable to recapture his high-octane best.
The 29-year-old instead drowned under a wave of unforced errors and six-time grand slam titlist Nadal took full advantage in closing out the match 6-0.
The Spaniard is now only two victories away from completing a career Grand Slam, having already won all the other three major championships at least once.
Argentine world No.6 Juan Martin del Potro awaits Nadal, who is struggling with an abdominal injury, in the semi-finals.
The weather-enforced rest period will no doubt have helped Nadal, but any lingering health issues will not help his chances against a rampant del Potro, who excels on American hardcourts.
Swiss world No.1 Roger Federer, the five-time defending US Open champion, and 2008 Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic, from Serbia, meet in the other men’s semi-final.
Both men’s semi-finals and the women’s singles final are tonight.
Men's Day 13 results
Women's Day 13 results
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