9/16/2009

Player of the week: Kim Clijsters


More than 2 years after leaving the Tour for creating a family and becoming a mother, and just having played two tournaments since her comeback to the Tour, former WTA #1 Kim Clijsters returned to a Grand Slam tournament, and she did it to take her 2nd Grand Slam title in the US Open.


Clijsters reached the Last-16 round after sweeping Victoriya Kutuzova and Kirsten Flipkens and upsetting 14th seed Marion Bartoli coming back from a set down. Then Clijsters showed that she was a real candidate for the title upsetting WTA #3 Venus Williams in a match decided in a close third set after baggeling each other in the 1st and 2nd set. After defeating Chinese Na Li in straight sets in the quarters, Clijsters faced an anticipated final against Serena Williams in the semis. Despite the controversial end of the match Serena's threats to the lineswoman, Clijsters was already in control of the match and just two points away from the victory. And in the final, Clijsters didn't lose her concentration against the deffensive game of Caroline Wozniacki and captured the title by 7/5 6/4.


With the lack of leadership the WTA Tour is suffering since Justine Henin's retirement, the return of Kim Clijsters at her best are the best possible news for the Tour.

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