Kim Clijsters Lifts Women's Title

14 September 2009

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Kim Clijsters’ fairytale return to the U.S. Open was completed in spectacular style last night as she lifted the title for the second time beating Caroline Wozniacki.

The twenty six year old has been away from the game for two years, in which time she has become, a mother, this is just her third tournament back.

Due to the weather the women’s final was pushed back twenty four hours as Clijsters and Wozniacki took to the court after the completion of the men’s semi finals.

The former world number one was given a wildcard into the tournament and she becomes the first woman to win a Grand Slam title with a wildcard, she is also the first mother since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to win a major.

This was also a big moment for Caroline Wozniacki as she made her first grand Slam final but she was overshadowed by the exploits of Clijsters as she put out both Williams sisters to make the final.

Despite dropping her first service game it was Wozniacki who had the advantage in the opening set as she twice moved a break clear.

When Clijsters fell 5-4 behind it looked like the set was going to the Dane but Clijsters broke back and held her own serve to take the first set 7-5.

Into the second and it was the Belgian that broke first to open up a 4-2 lead but Wozniacki continued to pressure her serve.

In Clijsters’ two remaining service games she had to battle back from 0-30 down before wrapping up the win 7-5 6-3.

Despite being unseeded coming into the tournament she looks set to break back into the top twenty with this win.

After the match she told the BBC: “I don't have words for how I'm feeling - I'm just glad I got to come back to defend my title from 2005!"

"It's been so exciting for me, I just wanted to get back to playing tennis. The support I've received has been crazy.

"Even from the first round, how warmly everyone welcomed and embraced me. It helped me keep fighting and stay focused."

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

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