Let the Final Begin, It’s Kim Clijsters Versus Vera Zvonareva!

Vera's backhand by Getty Images
The final spots for women’s US Open were completed. Vera Zvonareva upset top seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-3, while Kim Clijsters defeated Venus Williams 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.

A rematch from last year’s final looks to repeat as Caroline beat all her opponents in straight sets as she sailed through the semifinals. But Vera aiming to advance in her first US Open semifinals was steadier all throughout and never let the Dane execute her game. In the first set she quickly went ahead 3-1, as the Dane kept piling her errors, getting more frustrated. Vera then closed the set after making two easy volleys at the net. 

"It was tough as Caroline was in the final last year and she is a great player, but I was patient and aggressive like in my previous matches," Zvonareva said."It was a great experience at Wimbledon but it's something that is in the past and I am trying to look forward." she added.

Caroline packs her bags by Getty Images

The second set was even more straightforward for Zvonareva. She may have encountered an equipment malfunction with broken racquet strings, but it never caused her any trouble as she served out the match, concluding it when Wozniacki hit long with an errant forehand.

Wozniacki was humbled as she paid tribute to Zvonareva for ending her 13-match winning streak.

"She was not missing and going for her shots and most were going in," she said.
"I had chances and I made some mistakes that I usually don't do. It was a tough day for me at the office and it had to be today. "I just need to learn from this, I can look back on this tournament and be proud with what I have achieved."

The other semifinals featured two former US Open Champions, American Venus Williams who won 2000-01 and Belgian Kim Clijsters in 2005 and 2009. Venus Williams is bidding to become the oldest grand slam winner in two decades while Kim is bidding to win back to back titles, a feat that Venus achieved in 2000-2001. 
Venus at the net by Getty Images

Two women started very well holding each other’s serve. But Williams took advantage of her break point opportunity, and manage to get an early lead. Thanks to successful net approaches and solid ground strokes, putting the Belgian on the defensive. Clijsters even attempted to hit a backhand drop shot and lob combination only for Williams to smash in the open court and end the first set 6-4.

The tempo of the match was changed when Clijsters made a key adjustment to her game plan. She played closer to the baseline, tightened up her backswing and pushed Wiliams around more. She move away, and lead at 5-2 but Venus refused to let go. She levelled it to 5-5 as she blasted strong service games and ripped solid returns. But Clijsters hold her serve to go up again at 6-5. Venus then forced the tie-breaker after she held own serve. Unfortunately, unforced errors proved too costly for Venus, Kim dominated again in the tie-breaker and ended the second set 7-2 after Williams’ overhead smash went out. Williams tried the inevitable by challenging the call, but Clijsters went to the player’s seat right before the replay was finished. The call was indeed out and ended the second set.

The third set was fairly even but a crucial break point decided the fate of the two former champions. While Williams serving at 4-4, 30-all, she double faulted giving Clijsters the break point. Then, Clijsters hit a backhand lob over Williams for a winner and went ahead at 5-4. Then Clijsters served it out to finish the match at 6-4.

The win extended Clijsters’ US Open winning streak to 20 matches putting her second place in the all time list.

“This is what you try to achieve,” said Clijsters, also the 2005 U.S. Open champion. “I never expected I’d come back in this position. I was trying to do it. It wasn’t easy, but I stuck with it.”

The finals on Saturday will be a rematch between Kim Clijsters and Vera Zvonareva. They meet last July in Wimbledon where Vera upset Kim in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.


1 comments:

  1. GO KIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WIN THE TITLE!

    ReplyDelete

 

Flickr Photostream

<>

Twitter Updates

Meet The Author

'