Clijsters routs Zvonareva to claim back-to-back US Open titles
By ANISunday, September 12, 2010
NEW YORK - World No. 3 Kim Clijsters has claimed her second consecutive US Open women’s singles title by defeating Russia’s Vera Zvonareva at Flushing Meadows.
In a lopsided final, the defending champion required just 59 minutes for a masterful 6-2, 6-1 victory.
Clijsters now has three US Open titles after also claiming the 2005 crown, and remains unbeaten in New York in 21 matches dating back to 2003.
The Belgian had consoling words for her opponent, reminding the 26-year-old that she was the only woman to have lost her first four grand slam finals before finally winning the US Open five years ago.
“A little bit of experience definitely helps. It’s tough (for Zvonareva), but it took me six or seven finals until I finally got one,” Fox Sports quoted Clijsters, as saying.
On the other hand, a distraught-looking Zvonareva said: “Kim just played tremendously well and she deserved to win.”
In addition to collecting a winner’s cheque of 1.7 million dollars, Clijsters pocketed a 500,000 dollar bonus for taking out the US Open summer series.
Last year, Clijsters became the first-ever wildcard to win the US Open and first mother to raise a grand slam trophy since Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Wimbledon in 1980. (ANI)
