Kim Clijsters made last year’s US Open one of the most interesting ones as she won the title playing only her third tournament after a three-year-long break from tennis. The 27-year-old Belgian has now put icing on the cake by defending her title in the shortest women’s final since officials started keeping track of match times in 1980 and the most one-sided final in 34 years, since Chris Evert demolished Evonne Goolagong in 1976.
The second-seeded Clijsters defeated Russian Vera Zvonareva, No.7 seed, 6-2 6-1 in just 60 minutes, without dropping even one service game. The match started with consistent play from both players as the score went to 2-2, but from then on Clijsters won seven straight games and barely looked back. Clijsters, who won her third US Open title, had words of consolation for Zvonareva who easily lost her second straight Grand Slam final: “Vera just keep it going, it will happen.”
Here’s the list of players, in order, that Clijsters defeated en route to the title: Greta Arn, Sally Peers, Petra Kvitova, Ana Ivanovic, Samantha Stosur, Venus Williams, and then Vera Zvonareva.
In addition to the $1.7 million winner’s prize, Clijsters also received a $500,000 bonus for finishing second in the US Open Series of tournaments. The Belgian’s winning streak at the US Open is now 21 matches – she won the title in 2005, then didn’t play tennis for three years, and came back to win in 2009 and 2010.
It was a great performance by Kim. She was hitting the ball so well and deep and barely making any mistakes. I think Vera tried to hang in with her but got disheartened when the ball just kept coming back at her.
No woman on tour can compete with Kim Clijsters when she’s on her game.
That said, Vera Zvonareva just really isn’t a top player. However, she makes a fine living being a jobber.
Hi,Congratulations for Kim.Vera,you are a beautiful woman,you will still win,don’t cry,i’m believe in you.
You are the best tennis player in this world!!
Congratulation for you!!
It’s a pity Zvonareva couldn’t give more resistance, and I feel sad that she lost her second Grand Slam final so easily. I see a lot of people on the Internet are attacking her too much and ridiculing this US Open final, it’s not making it any easier for Zvonareva.
I also feel for Vera, she just had a complete mental shut down on the court. I think Kim was feeling sorry for her, too.
The crowd was almost definitely on Kim’s side and for someone as sensitive as Vera that must have been tough to handly. Also, the TV coverage was also a bit spiteful- they showed her last year’s meltdown when she was losing to Penneta and also a stats about number of rackets used in the set.
It’s a shame that American media are so disrespectful when it comes to players from other countries.
And look at these comments:
“Still, the last 24 hours might leave a tennis fan with a sense that something is missing, such as the other half of a tennis match for their $173 ticket. Maybe a junior quarterfinal? Co-ed exhibition match? World TeamTennis warmup?”
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/columns/story?columnist=mcmanus_jane&id=5562686
Awful, I rather won’t even read it. Interstingly, when Kim beat Venus in Miami in a similar fashion nobody had such complaints…
At least Vera did better then that Russian Mortal Kombat dude on Youtube.
That’s true.
At least Vera did better then this Russian guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyF5tbN8iXw
Reggie, oh poor Vera, but I can’t help but laugh.