Kim Clijsters vs Sam Stosur - US Open quarter-final preview
Defending champion Kim Clijsters has cruised into the quarter-finals of the 2010 US Open without dropping a set, but is set to face her biggest challenge of the tournament so far when she takes on Sam Stosur in the quarter-finals.
World No. 6 ranked Stosur was forced to earn her place among the final eight by 12th seed Elena Dementieva in a tense two hour and 40 minute fourth-round match that finished after 1.30am on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
How a player with such a potent serve failed to hold once during the second set of that match is perhaps the greatest mystery of the closely fought struggle. But, in saving four match points before claiming victory, Stosur again demonstrated the mental strength that saw her string together consecutive victories over four-time French Open champion Justine Henin, world No. 1 Serena Williams, and fourth seed Jelena Jankovic to book her place in the final at Roland Garros earlier in the year.
Incidentally, that winning streak began in the fourth round.
While Stosur has established herself in the top 10 in recent months, she’s also marked herself out as somewhat of a clay court specialist over the past couple of seasons. Certainly, the US Open has not, until now, been a happy hunting ground for the 26-year-old, who hadn’t made it past the second round in her six previous attempts.
It’s now Clijsters’ job to end the Australian’s career-best US Open run here, and in four matches so far the second seed has given every indication she’s ready to once again take all before her at Flushing Meadows.
The mum-of-one’s winning streak at the tournament has now stretched to 18 matches, her two most recent of them a 6-3, 6-0 win over Wimbledon semi-finalist Petra Kvitova and a 6-2, 6-1 win over former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic.
Clijsters knows how to beat Stosur too, having done so in all three of their previous matches, including in the quarter-finals in Miami earlier this year.
“Sam is a different player than what she was a few years ago. She's definitely improved a lot,” Clijsters said about her then potential opponent after winning her fourth round match. “She's a player who relies a lot on confidence...she's one of - probably one of the hardest hitters, but in a different way. You know, with the heavy spin balls and with the great serve.”
Still, it’s power Clijsters should be able to absorb, and return with interest as she delivers some penetrating ground strokes of her own. She’ll know also to exploit Stosur’s weaker backhand side, and her athleticism and ability to make an opponent play that extra shot could be telling against the fifth seed after her tough workout in her fourth-round match.
Prediction: This could be the first match of the tournament where Clijsters drops a set, but she should book her place in the final four.
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