Kim Clijsters made a strong but rocky start to her US Open title defense by overcoming veteran Hungarian Greta Arn 6-0, 7-5 in just over an hour.
Clijsters raced out of the gates, overwhelming Arn with her speed and her deep groundstrokes, storming through the first set in just 18 minutes. The Belgian won 100% of her first-serve points in the set, at one point serving three aces in a single game.
The second set saw a sudden dip in form for Clijsters, who made several unforced forehand errors in handing Arn a 4-0 lead.
"I kind of lost my positioning and my footing on court a little bit," Clijsters said.
The 27-year-old right-hander regained her composure and roared back, winning six of the next seven games to close out the match. On match point, Clijsters forced Arn off-court with a wide return before putting away a backhand down the line.
The first-round victory marks Clijsters' first US Open match following her surprise run to the title last year. Her return to the 2010 US Open was threatened by a thigh injury suffered earlier this month.
"For these last few weeks already preparing for the Open I've been trying to get my game back," Clijsters said. "But just to come out there and defending my title, I think I've never been in that position, and I was just excited to go out there."
Clijsters will meet 19-year-old Australian Sally Peers in the second round. Asked what she knows about Peers, Clijsters humorously replied, "That she's a 19-year-old Australian."
Clijsters raced out of the gates, overwhelming Arn with her speed and her deep groundstrokes, storming through the first set in just 18 minutes. The Belgian won 100% of her first-serve points in the set, at one point serving three aces in a single game.
The second set saw a sudden dip in form for Clijsters, who made several unforced forehand errors in handing Arn a 4-0 lead.
"I kind of lost my positioning and my footing on court a little bit," Clijsters said.
The 27-year-old right-hander regained her composure and roared back, winning six of the next seven games to close out the match. On match point, Clijsters forced Arn off-court with a wide return before putting away a backhand down the line.
The first-round victory marks Clijsters' first US Open match following her surprise run to the title last year. Her return to the 2010 US Open was threatened by a thigh injury suffered earlier this month.
"For these last few weeks already preparing for the Open I've been trying to get my game back," Clijsters said. "But just to come out there and defending my title, I think I've never been in that position, and I was just excited to go out there."
Clijsters will meet 19-year-old Australian Sally Peers in the second round. Asked what she knows about Peers, Clijsters humorously replied, "That she's a 19-year-old Australian."
3 comments:
I have Azarenka as my dark horse.
I have "Lickitongue" as my long, long shot (4th rd)
Venus: How much gas in her career tank?
"Divapova" I see her shoulder giving out against "The Big Stuffed Bunny".
Speaking of "The Bunny" lets see if the kid can pull it out.
"Fist Pumping Imbecile" second round.
Dementieva second round due to fatigue.
That annoying Italian thing: Please retire and go away now Schiavone.
I prey "The Big Stuffed Bunny" does not win because I see her as the Most likely player to make a big deal and get all stuck up.
"Divapva" I see putting eerything in to "TBSB" and going out in the quaters.
My Long shot Li Na
Venus could go well, probably SF's
In the final Im picking Kuznetsova over Azeranka or Clijsters
Yes "Captain", you could be right about "The Big Stuffed Bunny" getting stuck up if she wins a slam, there have been signs. I noticed her speech pattern (the way she talks) changed when she reached the top ten.
Li Na is good dark horse.
I have my reservations for "Kim Kong" repeating her 09 run.
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