Tennis Mama Clijsters shatters Zvonareva in straight sets to defend US Open title
On the morning of 12th of September at the US Open 2010 women’s singles finals, defending champion Kim Clijsters defeated Russian Vera Zvonareva in the shortest game of the tournament which lasted merely 59 minutes. The Belgian 2nd seed Clijsters beat Zvonareva, 7thseed, in straight sets at the Arthur Ashe stadium; 6-2, 6-1.
Kim Clijsters had been a favourite to win since last year, when she returned from a two year hiatus to reclaim the US Open title for the first time since she won the championship in 2005. Clijsters retired from tennis for almost three years due to injuries; after her recovery, she extended her leave to get married and became a mother. Despite this long break from her career, Clijsters returned to tennis for the 2009 Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open, making her comeback in Cincinnati at this tournament. She returned to the tennis court in 2009 as a wild card and an un-seeded player in her third tournament since she resumed playing. She was also the first such player to win a Grand Slam title after motherhood and a two-year long break and because of these reasons she is often called one of the Comeback Queens of Tennis.
The 26 year old Vera Zvonareva is a Russian player who turned pro in 2000 at the age of 16. In the year 2010, her first tournament was the Australian Open, which she entered as seventh seed. However, Zvonareva lost to Victoria Azarenka in the fourth match, costing herself a place in the Top Ten. She defended her title at the 2010 PTT Pattaya Open by defeating Tamarine Tanasugarn. Vera Zvonareva also reached her first Grand Slam final this year at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships, where she was the 21st seed. She reached the title match against Serena Williams by defeating Nuria Llagostera Vives, Andrea Hlavackova, Yanina Wickmayer, Jelena Jankovic (fourth seed), 8th seed Kim Clijsters and Tsvetana Pironkova. Eventually, Zvonareva was defeated by Serena Williams in straight sets at the final.
Still the 7th seed, Zvonareva reached the second position in her second consecutive Grand Slam final at this year’s US Open tournament. She reached the title match against Clijsters by defeating Zuzana Kucova, Sabine Lisicki, Alexandra Dulgheru, Andrea Petkovic, Kaia Kanepi and first seed Caroline Wozniacki.
Kim Clijsters herself lost to Vera Zvonareva at the 2010 Rogers Cup in Montreal, in the final event of the US Open series. Zvonareva defeated Clijsters in the quarter finals in three sets.
At the US Open 2010, Clijsters defeated Greta Arn, Sally Peers, 2010 Wimbledon semi-finalist Petra Kvitova and 2010 French Open Champion Ana Ivanovic. During the quarter finals, Clijsters defeated Aussie Samantha Stosur to advance to the semi finals against Venus Williams. The shocker was delivered to Williams in three sets, thereby achieving a winning streak of 20 consecutive matches.
During the US Open final, Clijsters defeated Zvonareva in straight sets in an under hour long game. This is her third US Open title and her second title as a mother. She earned 2.2 million dollars for this victory, equalling her own record from 2005 for the largest payday in women’s sports history. However, Zvonareva advanced to fourth seed while Clijsters declined to fifth due to a lack of ranking and points. However, Clijsters has almost no points to defend for the remaining year, so there is a bright chance that she may end the year in the top three.
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