Clijsters can finally celebrate a Grand Slam title
Belgian routs Pierce at U.S. Open, first time in five Slam finals
 Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Kim Clijsters holds the U.S. Open Championships trophy. Clijsters beat Mary Pierce, 6-3, 6-1, on Saturday for her first Grand Slam. |
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NEW YORK - Kim Clijsters climbed a wall and, like a tightrope walker, inched along a railing high above the court. Fans reached out to help her, worried she might fall.
No way. On this night, everything was grand.
After coming up short in her first four tries and missing much of last year with a serious wrist injury, Clijsters finally won her first Grand Slam title Saturday night, crushing Mary Pierce 6-3, 6-1 at the U.S. Open.
“It’s still very hard to believe,” said Clijsters, who won $2.2 million, double the top prize and the richest payday in women’s sports, because she won the U.S. Open Series leading up to the tournament. “It’s an amazing feeling to have, especially after being out for so long last year. It means so much more.”
When she hit a service winner on the second championship point, Clijsters dropped her racket and covered her mouth with her hands. After hugging Pierce at the net, she rushed to the side of the court, climbing over a photographer’s pit and through the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach her mom, sister and coach.
“I didn’t want to be standing out there by myself after the game. As soon as I looked over to them, I wanted to hug them,” Clijsters said. “I decided to run up there. I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. Luckily, I made it back safe.”
Clijsters had reached the final at the French and U.S. opens in 2003, as well as the Australian in 2004, only to fall short against fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne each time. She also lost to Jennifer Capriati in the 2001 French Open.
But those losses paled in significance last summer, when doctors told her she might not play again because of a wrist injury. She had surgery in June 2004, and missed the year’s last three majors. She also missed this year’s Australian Open.
When she returned to the tour, she had a new appreciation for the game. And new drive. She has talked about retiring in two years, and is determined to make the most of her career while it lasts.
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“There’s a time and a place for everything. Maybe it wasn’t my time yet in those Grand Slams,” she said. “Especially losing those Grand Slams, those definitely motivate you to work harder.”
It showed at the Open. She beat Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova to set up her meeting with Pierce, who knows a thing or two about comebacks herself.
The 30-year-old Frenchwoman is playing the best tennis of her career, five years after she won the French Open and 10 years after her victory at the Australian. She also reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, losing to Venus Williams, and will be No. 6 when the new rankings come out Monday, her first time in the top 10 since April 1, 2001.
Pierce upset Henin-Hardenne and third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo here as well as last year’s runner-up Elena Dementieva — though she needed an assist from the trainer to do that. Pierce had her right thigh heavily wrapped again Saturday, but duct tape wouldn’t have helped her against Clijsters.
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The Belgian was too strong, too crisp, too fleet.
“I thought it was going to be the ending point if I won it. I guess I’ll keep playing,” said Pierce, whose prize of $825,000 includes a $275,000 bonus for finishing second in the U.S. Open Series.
“It was a big disappointment right after the match,” Pierce said. “Even during, at certain times.”
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