The Hindu : Sport : Queen Kim's reign continues at US Open

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Queen Kim's reign continues at US Open

Quickest win in final since timings were first kept in 1980; Djokovic outlasts Federer

— PHOTO: AFP

DÉJÀ VU:In a repeat showing of last year, Kim Clijsters was joined on court after the prize-award ceremony by daughter Jada.

NEW YORK: Kim Clijsters defended her US Open title on Saturday by crushing the challenge of a shell-shocked Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1 in just 59 minutes, the fastest final since timing records were first kept.

It was a blow out of a championship match with Clijsters clamping a stranglehold on the game from the first exchanges and never allowing the less-experienced Russian a chance to claw her way back into it.

There has not been a more lop-sided US Open final since Maria Bueno of Brazil defeated Carole Caldwell Graebner of the United States 6-1, 6-0 in 1964.

“A little bit of experience definitely helps,” she said. “It's tough (for Zvonareva), but it took me six or seven finals until I finally got one.”

A distraught-looking Zvonareva said simply: “Kim just played tremendously well and she deserved to win.”

One-way traffic

Rafael Nadal stormed into the men's final on Saturday, easing past Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. It was one-way traffic as the top seed had too much power and control for the tournament's 12th seed, winning in two hours 13 minutes.

“For me it is a dream to play for the first time in a final in the biggest centre court in the world,” said the 24-year-old Nadal.

“I have been trying my best for years so after a lot of work I am very happy about that.”

Raw courage

In the other semifinal, Novak Djokovic saved two match points in the 10th game of the fifth set and rallied to defeat Roger Federer 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 on Saturday.

“I'm sorry for all the ones who wanted to see Roger and Rafa in the final,” Djokovic said. “I didn't think about that too much.”

Djokovic hit a forehand wide to give Federer two break and match points in the pivotal tenth game of the fifth set, but the Serb saved them with an overhead smash and a forehand winner on his way to holding to 5-5.

Djokovic said, “I was closing my eyes and just kept hitting forehands. If it goes in, it goes in. If it goes out, another loss to Federer in US Open.”

Djokovic broke Federer in the 11th game. Then, Federer forced a break point with Djokovic serving for the match — one point from forcing the first fifth-set tie-breaker in a US Open semifinal in 30 years.

But Federer hit a backhand long and then netted a forehand to give Djokovic his first match point and the Serbian ended it when Federer hit wideafter a long rally.

“Obviously you feel like you left something out if you lose the match having had match point,” Federer said. “Maybe it was luck. Maybe it was he played well. Maybe you didn't pick the right shot. Maybe he did.”

“I missed a few too many forehands at the very end but the match won't be decided on winners only,” Federer said. “You can also see mistakes, and he pushed me to make those. Credit to him.”

“It was electric,” Federer said. “It was good tennis at the end.” — AFP

THE RESULTS

Men: Semifinals: 1-Rafael Nadal (Esp) bt 12-Mikhail Youzhny (Rus) 6-2, 6-3, 6-4; 3-Novak Djokovic (Srb) bt 2-Roger Federer (Sui) 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.

Women: Final: 2-Kim Clijsters (Bel) bt 7-Vera Zvonareva (Rus) 6-2, 6-1. Semifinals: Zvonareva bt 1-Caroline Wozniacki (Den) 6-4, 6-3; Clijsters bt 3-Venus Williams (USA) 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 .

Corrections and Clarification

The report, "Queen Kim's reign continues," said "this was her third US Open final. It was Clijster's fourth US Open final. Kim might have played in only four Grand Slam finals, but what was reported was her quote: "It took me six or seven finals until I finally got one."

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