Super mom completes Open comeback

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 Open – and the first mother 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, watched from a suite at the court, but later came down to take part in the celebration.

Clijsters cradled the baby in one hand, the trophy in the other: The joy of motherhood. The joy of winning the US Open.

“It was not really our plan,” Clijsters said. “I just wanted to start these three tournaments and get back into the rhythm of playing tennis and get used to the surroundings again.”

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 US Open. But Clijsters was the winner. This was her second US 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.

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.

This match was nothing like the Williams match – before it turned sour – which was filled with short, hard-hitting rallies in which Clijsters moved one of tennis’ best players at will and made her hit shots from places she normally doesn’t.                 (AP)