NEW YORK — Well, she sure answered that question.
Anyone wondering how serious a threat Kim Clijsters might be at the U.S. Open after a two-year layoff got their answer Sunday, when the 2005 champion at Flushing Meadows toppled none other than No. 3 Venus Williams 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Moving well, stinging shots with both forehand and backhand and matching every bit of Williams’ power, the Belgian star offered a startling referendum on the state of her game in her first Grand Slam appearance since having a baby 18 months ago.
It also may have said something about the state of Williams’ left knee, which she hurt in the opening round but had refused throughout the tournament to use as an excuse.
“It was unbelievable. I don’t know what to say,” Clijsters said. “It was such a weird match, especially those first two sets. But after I lost the second at 6-0, I said, ‘Let’s start over and start a new match.’ “
On the men’s side, No. 3 Rafael Nadal overcame a 10-minute medical break for an injury to his stomach muscles to defeat 32nd-seeded Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.
In another men’s match, second-seeded Andy Murray, trying to become the first British man since the 1930s to win a Grand Slam title, beat 195th- ranked Taylor Dent 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Before her sister lost, second-seeded Serena Williams cruised through her fourth-round match, winning the final 10 games in a 6-2, 6-0 rout over No. 22 Daniela Hantuchova.
But the biggest buzz belonged to Clijsters, who was clearly the fan favorite at Arthur Ashe Stadium — an honor usually reserved for an American going against a foreigner at this tournament.
“I’ve been working really hard the last seven, eight months and I’m enjoying it,” Clijsters said. “It’s something that’s really important for myself, as long as I can focus on tennis and have fun on the outside as well.”
At a glance
A brief look at Sunday’s play:
Weather: Sunny early, then cloudy. High of 72.
Attendance: Day: 37,388.
Men’s winners: Third round: No. 3 Rafael Nadal, No. 6 Juan Martin del Potro, No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez, No. 13 Gael Monfils and No. 24 Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Men’s losers: No. 9 Gilles Simon, No. 17 Tomas Berdych and No. 32 Nicolas Almagro.
Women’s winners: No. 2 Serena Williams, No. 18 Li Na and Kim Clijsters.
Women’s losers: No. 3 Venus Williams, No. 22 Daniela Hantuchova and No. 26 Francesca Schiavone.
Stat of the day: The 6-0, 0-6 start of the Clijsters-Venus Williams match was the first time that occurred at a U.S. Open women’s match since Beth Norton defeated Fiorella Bonicelli in the first round of the 1975 tournament.
Quote of the day: “It was such a weird match, especially those first two sets. But after I lost the second at 6-0, I said let’s start over and start a new match.” — Clijsters
TV: KCNC-4, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; ESPN2, 5 p.m.
The Associated Press
