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Clijsters turns back the clock to beat Venus
Source: Agencies |
September 8, 2009, Tuesday
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KIM Clijsters marked her dazzling return to the grand slam spotlight by ousting Venus Williams, while younger sister Serena picked up the slack by digging in for an extended New York stay.
Kim Clijsters marked her dazzling return to the grand slam spotlight by ousting Venus Williams, while younger sister Serena picked up the slack by digging in for an extended New York stay.
There was no shortage of drama at Flushing Meadows in New York.
No. 2 seed Andy Murray joined the men's clique still alive for the Open's second week, along with sixth-seed Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, French seventh-seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.
Clijsters's electrifying appearance in the limelight after a two-year hiatus had more than 23,000 in Arthur Ashe Stadium cheering her every move.
She took a bite out of Venus's Big Apple experience with a wacky 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 victory, a 1h42m theatrical adventure able to rival anything on nearby Broadway.
"It was unbelievable," said the euphoric Belgian, who left the game to start a family before coming out of retirement early this summer. "I don't really know what to say. It was such a weird match.
"After I lost the second set 6-0 I was just like, okay, just start over and fight for every point," added Clijsters, who will next face Li Na after the Chinese veteran beat Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-3.
"I don't really know what to say. It was such a weird match.
Winning on the Open's marquee court provided a sense of deja vu for the unseeded 26-year-old Clijsters, who won the title here in 2005.
"It's still kind of hard to believe," she said. "But then again, I'm not trying to get carried away with it all. Just trying to focus on what I have to do because the tournament's still going."
Clijsters won her serve to close out the match, but had to save two break points in the process. The former world number one conceded she was "shaking" in the final game.
"My arm felt like 50 pounds or more. But I told myself, 'Look, don't give it away like that.' Try to play aggressive tennis and let her come up with a good shot to win it."
"She played well," offered third-seeded Venus, whose quest for a third Open title was derailed. "She's always played well throughout her career. I'm sure she'll continue to do that.
Murray pleased
With 29-year-old Venus having checked out of the tournament, No. 2 seed Serena had the family flag still flying high with a 6-2, 6-0 annihilation of Daniela Hantuchova.
When asked about all the upsets, Serena said: "Just (shows) you can't underestimate anyone. You have to be ready for every match."
The Australian Open and Wimbledon winner is gunning for her fourth singles title here.
Hantuchova has already penciled in Serena as the winner, saying: "When she's playing like this, I don't think there's anybody that can beat her."
Murray, the Open runner-up in 2008, needed only 90 minutes to extinguish American Taylor Dent 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and set up a fourth-round encounter with Croat Marin Cilic.
The Scot was pleased with his tournament so far, having beaten Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, Chile's Paul Capdeville and Dent.
"I played three pretty different players," he said. "I thought I dealt with the different tests that were sort of put in front of me pretty well. Try and play like that for the next few matches."
Kim Clijsters marked her dazzling return to the grand slam spotlight by ousting Venus Williams, while younger sister Serena picked up the slack by digging in for an extended New York stay.
There was no shortage of drama at Flushing Meadows in New York.
No. 2 seed Andy Murray joined the men's clique still alive for the Open's second week, along with sixth-seed Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, French seventh-seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.
Clijsters's electrifying appearance in the limelight after a two-year hiatus had more than 23,000 in Arthur Ashe Stadium cheering her every move.
She took a bite out of Venus's Big Apple experience with a wacky 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 victory, a 1h42m theatrical adventure able to rival anything on nearby Broadway.
"It was unbelievable," said the euphoric Belgian, who left the game to start a family before coming out of retirement early this summer. "I don't really know what to say. It was such a weird match.
"After I lost the second set 6-0 I was just like, okay, just start over and fight for every point," added Clijsters, who will next face Li Na after the Chinese veteran beat Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-3.
"I don't really know what to say. It was such a weird match.
Winning on the Open's marquee court provided a sense of deja vu for the unseeded 26-year-old Clijsters, who won the title here in 2005.
"It's still kind of hard to believe," she said. "But then again, I'm not trying to get carried away with it all. Just trying to focus on what I have to do because the tournament's still going."
Clijsters won her serve to close out the match, but had to save two break points in the process. The former world number one conceded she was "shaking" in the final game.
"My arm felt like 50 pounds or more. But I told myself, 'Look, don't give it away like that.' Try to play aggressive tennis and let her come up with a good shot to win it."
"She played well," offered third-seeded Venus, whose quest for a third Open title was derailed. "She's always played well throughout her career. I'm sure she'll continue to do that.
Murray pleased
With 29-year-old Venus having checked out of the tournament, No. 2 seed Serena had the family flag still flying high with a 6-2, 6-0 annihilation of Daniela Hantuchova.
When asked about all the upsets, Serena said: "Just (shows) you can't underestimate anyone. You have to be ready for every match."
The Australian Open and Wimbledon winner is gunning for her fourth singles title here.
Hantuchova has already penciled in Serena as the winner, saying: "When she's playing like this, I don't think there's anybody that can beat her."
Murray, the Open runner-up in 2008, needed only 90 minutes to extinguish American Taylor Dent 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and set up a fourth-round encounter with Croat Marin Cilic.
The Scot was pleased with his tournament so far, having beaten Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, Chile's Paul Capdeville and Dent.
"I played three pretty different players," he said. "I thought I dealt with the different tests that were sort of put in front of me pretty well. Try and play like that for the next few matches."
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