28-year-old Belgian Kim Clijsters completely dominated the Women’s Singles Final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, crushing he r 27-year-old Russian opponent Vera Zvonareva in straight sets, 6–2, 6–1.
Clijsters came out running hard and hitting harder, seeming always to be in perfect position to return whatever Zvonareva sent her way. The Belgian player seemed to be completely calm and in control form the opening serve, forcing Zvonareva to run the length and width of the court, and winning almost every point in her service games.
Zvonareva seemed to be uncertain and unready, almost dazed by the display of power and precision she was facing.
Clijsters scored with 78 percent of her first serves, hit 17 winners, and only 125 unforced errors. Whether blasting from the baseline or charging the net, she performed perfectly.
After the match, Clijsters had kind words for her opponent. “I told her, ‘It’s tough when you lose. I think it took me six or seven finals before I finally got one.’
“She has improved so much. Vera, just keep it going; it will happen. You’re a great player. Just keep it going and it’ll happen.”
Zvonareva, famous for her emotional outburst and complete collapses of concentration, seemed to be heading for a blow-up; at one point she smashed he racquet repeatedly on the court. But the Russian player found her composure and fought back in the second set. While she only one won game, Zvonareva fought hard on several points, making Clijsters earn her win.
“[Ifeel] a little bit better right now than like ten minutes ago when I was losing everything,” Zvonareva told CBS. “Kim just played tremendously well today and she deserved to win.”
Zvonareva made her stand in the fourth game of the second set. Down 3–0, fought back to win a game. She started the next game with a 27-stroke rally, which ended when she hit the ball into the net.
Undaunted, Zvonareva continued to scrap, battling through another long rally where both players mixed pace, precise placement, and footspeed. She lost this point too, after running the length of the court to return a drop shot, only to hit it wide, but again, she kept her spirit up.
Zvonareva won the next point by hitting increasingly sharp angles, eventually running Clijsters off the court. She followed this by racing from sideline to sideline to hit a difficult cross-body crosscourt to beat Clijsters.
Clijsters responded by winning the game with an ace. Clijsters won the next game as well as Zvonareva hit a double fault after a hard fight.
That was as far as Zvonareva’s resurgence lasted. No matter how great a shot Zvonareva hit, Clijsters was able to answer with an even tougher response.
Both players showed tremendous skill. Clijsters showed the emotional strength her experience has gained her, and ultimately that was what won her the title. Clijsters told CBS, “A little bit of experience definitely helps”
Clijsters came out running hard and hitting harder, seeming always to be in perfect position to return whatever Zvonareva sent her way. The Belgian player seemed to be completely calm and in control form the opening serve, forcing Zvonareva to run the length and width of the court, and winning almost every point in her service games.
Zvonareva seemed to be uncertain and unready, almost dazed by the display of power and precision she was facing.
Clijsters scored with 78 percent of her first serves, hit 17 winners, and only 125 unforced errors. Whether blasting from the baseline or charging the net, she performed perfectly.
After the match, Clijsters had kind words for her opponent. “I told her, ‘It’s tough when you lose. I think it took me six or seven finals before I finally got one.’
“She has improved so much. Vera, just keep it going; it will happen. You’re a great player. Just keep it going and it’ll happen.”
Zvonareva, famous for her emotional outburst and complete collapses of concentration, seemed to be heading for a blow-up; at one point she smashed he racquet repeatedly on the court. But the Russian player found her composure and fought back in the second set. While she only one won game, Zvonareva fought hard on several points, making Clijsters earn her win.
“[Ifeel] a little bit better right now than like ten minutes ago when I was losing everything,” Zvonareva told CBS. “Kim just played tremendously well today and she deserved to win.”
Zvonareva made her stand in the fourth game of the second set. Down 3–0, fought back to win a game. She started the next game with a 27-stroke rally, which ended when she hit the ball into the net.
Undaunted, Zvonareva continued to scrap, battling through another long rally where both players mixed pace, precise placement, and footspeed. She lost this point too, after running the length of the court to return a drop shot, only to hit it wide, but again, she kept her spirit up.
Zvonareva won the next point by hitting increasingly sharp angles, eventually running Clijsters off the court. She followed this by racing from sideline to sideline to hit a difficult cross-body crosscourt to beat Clijsters.
Clijsters responded by winning the game with an ace. Clijsters won the next game as well as Zvonareva hit a double fault after a hard fight.
That was as far as Zvonareva’s resurgence lasted. No matter how great a shot Zvonareva hit, Clijsters was able to answer with an even tougher response.
Both players showed tremendous skill. Clijsters showed the emotional strength her experience has gained her, and ultimately that was what won her the title. Clijsters told CBS, “A little bit of experience definitely helps”
