Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters was born 8 June 1983. She is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 14 February 2011, Clijsters is ranked World No. 1 in singles and is a former World No. 1 in doubles. She shares the record for most Grand Slam singles titles won as a mother with Margaret Court.
Clijsters is the reigning singles champion at the US Open and the Australian Open. She has also won 41 WTA singles titles and 11 WTA doubles titles. She has won four Grand Slam singles titles: three at the US Open, in 2005, 2009 and 2010 and one at the Australian Open in 2011. She has also been runner-up in four Grand Slam singles tournaments, and won the WTA Tour Championships singles title in 2002, 2003 and 2010. In doubles, she won the French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2003. Clijsters announced her retirement with immediate effect on 6 May 2007, but almost two years later, on 26 March 2009, she publicly declared her intent to return to the WTA tour for the 2009 summer hard court season. In only her third tournament back, she won her second US Open title, becoming the first unseeded player and wildcard to win the tournament, and the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong in 19
Arthur Ashe stadium witnessed a cracker of a match that initially got delayed due to rain and finally it ended with Serena Williams walking out of the court after yelling at the line judge who called foot fault in her second serve at 15-40 in the second set and finally awarding the match point to Clijsters, ending the second set at 7-5.
Belgian comeback tennis ace Kim Clijsters is through to the finals of US Open Women’s Singles after upsetting the defending champion in what had been a dramatic semi final match.
Serena lost the match to Clijsters after paying a penalty point for showing ire on the linesman. It was unfortunate for the sporting world as experienced Serena could have handled it much better. It’s not good in the spirit of the game and the role model that she is regarded in the world of tennis.
Although Clijsters would have asked for a fair finish, it was moment of utter happiness for her as she was almost ousting the champ. Her backhand was amazing and so her agility. The first half of the first set elonged clearly to Clijsters but then Serena sprung back with her speed. At one point a return from her came at a speed of over 120 mph. No one could do anything about such speed. Clijters looked more focused and she tried to play at corners; her intentions clear to make Serena run around the court.
She had been quite successful.
Clijsters took the first set 6-4, Serena Williams for once was even warned for racket abuse and in the second set when the chair umpire awarded the match point to Clijsters, Williams walked off in anger.
All said and done, the Belgian tennis pro is having a great outing at the Flushing Meadows’ coming after a long break with wild card she walks comfortably to the finals.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki and crowd favourite Maria Sharapova also sent notes of support through the organisers of the Pan Pacific Open, which begins on September 25. “I’ve watched all the disasters that hit Japan. I’m so sad for the families and everyone,” said Wozniacki, the event’s reigning champion.
“I just see whole cities ruined, the families being separated and so many people killed. I’ve had so many great memories in Japan, I’ve always played well out there,” added the 20-year-old Dane, who also won the 2008 Japan Open.
Sharapova, a former world number one who claimed her first WTA singles and doubles titles at the 2003 Japan Open, said she had “incredible memories” of playing in Japan.—AFP
Status : Pro (August 1994)
