Kim Clijsters wins US Open in 3rd tournament back after more than 2 years of retirement

Clijsters wins US Open in return from retirement

NEW YORK — Kim Clijsters made history Sunday night, capping a comeback from two years out of tennis to become the first unseeded woman to win the U.S. Open — and the first mom to win a major since 1980 — with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki.

When it was over, Clijsters collapsed to the ground and started crying — tears of joy, probably mixed in with a little bit of shock, too. Her 18-month-old daughter, Jada, was in a suite with a pacifier in her mouth.

Guess what mommy got for you, sweetie! A Grand Slam title.

It was all quite a different scene from the night before, when Clijsters’ semifinal win over Serena Williams was decided on a point penalty, and the 26-year-old Belgian stood behind the baseline, looking bewildered as Williams ran over to shake her hand.

Williams’ tirade may have been the talk of the U.S. Open. But Clijsters was the winner. This was her second U.S. Open title, the last coming in 2005 — her last appearance at Flushing Meadows and before a spate of nagging injuries eventually drove her out of the sport.

Some might have called it the mother of all upsets, but by the time she reached the final, against the resilient but still-learning Wozniacki, it was hard to view it that way.

Clijsters beat both Williams sisters and two other players seeded in the teens. She matched Venus and Serena power shot for power shot and showed she could play Wozniacki’s patient game — and play it better.