Venus Williams Out As Kim Clijsters Marches On

2 months ago 07th Sep 12:20

Venus Williams became the latest big name casualty in the women's game as she crashed out of the U.S. Open to Kim Clijsters.

Billed as the match of the fourth round the two former champions last met in 2005 when Clijsters beat Williams on the way to winning the title at Flushing Meadows.

Fast forward four years and Clijsters is returning to the game after a two year absence to start a family.

And it looked like it might be an embarrassing night for Williams, whose leg remained heavily strapped, as Clijsters blasted through the first set, breaking Williams, three times, to win it 6-0 in under thirty minutes.

But how quickly the momentum swung as Williams regained her composure as well as vastly improving her serve turning the tables on Clijsters as she won a 6-0 set of her own.

It looked like the moment got to Clijsters as she struggled to read Williams' serve in the second set.

In a one set shoot out Clijsters regained her control as Williams' serve once again started to tighten up.

With the crowd on her side Clijsters got the crucial break to movie 5-4 ahead and served for the set. A tired looking Williams put the ball into the net to hand her opponent a 6-0 0-6 6-4 victory.

Clijsters will now face Li Na in the quarter finals as she put out Francesca Schiavone in straight sets.

But it wasn't all doom and gloom for the Williams clan as Serena progressed into the next round with a clinical win over Daniela Hantuchova.

In just over an hour Serena dispatched Hantuchova 6-2 6-0, winning the last ten games on the trot.

Serena's next opponent will be the in form Flavia Pennetta who was tested by Vera Zvonareva, saving six match point before eventually winning 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-0.