Clijsters sinks Serena, makes US Open final
Monday, 14 September 2009
NEW YORK, Sept 13 (AFP): Comeback queen Kim Clijsters produced a massive upset to defeat title holder and tournament favourite Serena Williams 6-4, 7-5 in the US Open semi-finals Saturday.
The match had a chaotic ending with Williams handed a point penalty for verbally abusing and threatening a lineswoman who foot-faulted her to set up match point.
Williams had earlier drawn a warning for smashing her racquet to the ground after losing the first set. The second warning was an automatic point penalty, which just happened to come on match point.
"I said something and I guess they gave me a point penalty and unfortunately it was on match point," she said.
"Clearly in all this year I've never, never been foot-faulted and suddenly in this tournament they give me foot faults.
"I'm not saying I don't foot fault, but it was what it was.
"I've never been in a fight in my whole life so I don't know why she would feel threatened.
"I'm clearly not happy."
Clijsters, who looked stunned by the finish, became the first wildcard, man or woman, to reach a US Open final and the first mother to reach a Grand Slam final since Australia's Evonne Goolagong in 1980 when she won the Wimbledon title.
"I was trying to stay focussed for the match and was facing the other way," Clijsters said.
"I saw Serena talking to the linesman, but I was too far way to hear what she was saying so I can't really comment on what was happening out there."
The match had a chaotic ending with Williams handed a point penalty for verbally abusing and threatening a lineswoman who foot-faulted her to set up match point.
Williams had earlier drawn a warning for smashing her racquet to the ground after losing the first set. The second warning was an automatic point penalty, which just happened to come on match point.
"I said something and I guess they gave me a point penalty and unfortunately it was on match point," she said.
"Clearly in all this year I've never, never been foot-faulted and suddenly in this tournament they give me foot faults.
"I'm not saying I don't foot fault, but it was what it was.
"I've never been in a fight in my whole life so I don't know why she would feel threatened.
"I'm clearly not happy."
Clijsters, who looked stunned by the finish, became the first wildcard, man or woman, to reach a US Open final and the first mother to reach a Grand Slam final since Australia's Evonne Goolagong in 1980 when she won the Wimbledon title.
"I was trying to stay focussed for the match and was facing the other way," Clijsters said.
"I saw Serena talking to the linesman, but I was too far way to hear what she was saying so I can't really comment on what was happening out there."