Kim Clijsters moves into top 20 in women’s rankings after winning US Open in comeback

Clijsters moves into top 20 in women’s rankings

LONDON — Kim Clijsters moved into the top 20 in the women’s rankings Monday, one day after winning the U.S. Open in her comeback.

The 26-year-old Belgian, who beat Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 Sunday, moved into 19th place in the WTA rankings after coming into the tournament unranked following her 2½-year retirement from the sport.

Clijsters easily moved through the women’s field, beating both Serena and Venus Williams en route to her second major title. She became the first mother to win a major title since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 at Wimbledon.

Dinara Safina of Russia remained No. 1 in the rankings ahead of Serena and Venus. Two more Russians, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva, rounded out the top five.