30 Aug 2010

US OPEN • KIM REACHES 2ND ROUND!


Aug. 30 • It took her just over an hour, but it wasn't exactly an easy start for Kim, who has nonetheless reached the second round of the US Open. She has defeated the Hungarian Greta Arn in straight sets, 6-0 7-5.

Kim raced out of the gates, taking the first set to love in 18 minutes and winning 100% of the points played on her first serve, even serving 3 aces in a single game.

The second set was very different. With unforced errors creeping into her game, Kim gave Arn a 0-4 lead before coming back in the set, winning 6 of the last 7 games to close out the match in straight sets!

Kim's second round opponent will be the Australian Sally Peers, who defeated Aleksandra Wozniak to reach the second round.


US OPEN • 1ST ROUND MISSION!

Aug. 30 • So, this is it! Kim starts her US Open tourney today! Her 1st round match against Greta Arn is scheduled at 1PM, NYC time!

On a side note, check our brand new page! It's a gallery where you'll find some pictures of Kim's latest activity! Right now, you can notably find some pictures from the AA Kids' Day! Just check the Tabs and click 'Gallery'!

28 Aug 2010

US OPEN • AA KIDS' DAY + KIM PLAYING BASEBALL!

Aug. 28 • Just a quick update to let you know that today's the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the Us Open, which Kim will be taking part in!

Also, Kim got to play some ...baseballShe visited with the New York Mets at their home ballpark, Citi Field, during batting practice and then threw out the first pitch of their game against the Houston Astros. Adjacent to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, the defending US Open women's champion met All-Star third baseman David Wright for the first time and had a short chat as she wore a Mets jersey with No. 4 and 'Clijsters' on the back.


"This is one of the (events) I was looking forward to a lot, it is an honor to be here and to be part of for me, an American sport", Clijsters said. "Over the last few years, through my husband, I got to learn more about baseball so it is fun to be here up close."
"I always enjoy meeting other athletes and get to know what their life is about", she said of meeting the Mets and watching the team get ready for the game. "We are all athletes, but we play such different sports, we prepare differently and it is fun to get up close and see how they prepare and see how they warm up before games and that is what I like to see about this whole day."

US OPEN • KIM'S DRAW

Aug. 28 • There's a lot going on right now, as Kim is just a couple of days away from her US Open 2010 debut! As you probably already know, she will face the Hungarian Greta Arn in the first round. It will be the first meeting between both players – Arn is currently ranked World No.103.

Now here are the opponents Kim might face later in the tournament: 
   2nd • Wozniak 
   3rd • Kvitova
   4th • Bartoli/Ivanovic/Zheng
   1/4 • Dementieva/Kleybanova/Stosur
   1/2 • Schiavone/Azarenka/Pennetta/V.Williams
   F • Wozniacki/Kuznetsova/Sharapova/Jankovic/Zvonareva/Li

You can also check the whole draw here.


26 Aug 2010

US OPEN • DRAW ANNOUNCED SOON!

Aug. 26 • So, here it comes, the US OPEN. Kim is in New York and will take part in the draw ceremony today. She's the No.2 seed and will try to defend her title! Come back to find all the information you need to know about the last Grand Slam of the season!

On a side note, check this very interesting article published on the NY Times website. It comes with a photo- and videoshoot Kim took part in!

24 Aug 2010

KIM RANKED WORLD NO.3!

Aug. 24 • Because of all the Canadian rain lately, the WTA rankings have only been published now! And, guess what, Kim is ranked World No.3 this week, her highest ranking since she came back a year ago! It augurs well for the coming weeks as Kim has to defend her title at the US Open in a bit less than a week...


21 Aug 2010

MONTRÉAL • ZVONAREVA STOPS KIM

Aug. 21  Kim's run to a second title in a row on summer hard courts came to an end yesterday, as Vera Zvonareva proved too strong for our No.1 Belgian player, beating her 6-2 3-6 2-6. Although Kim managed to produce some high-level tennis at times, she still lacked consistency, which has been a problem for her for quite a few months now. But one has to give Zvonareva credit; outplayed in the first set, she managed to stay cool to put herself back on track and to close it up in the third.

Between the second and third sets, Kim called the trainer and got her thigh strapped. When she returned to play, her movement seemed a bit restricted, although this is clearly not what cost her the match.

Check Kim's and Vera's comments:
"She might have had some movement problems, but players as good as her can still play very well even if they're injured, so you cannot think about what's going on on the other side", Zvonareva said. "I had to keep doing the same thing."
"It gradually got tighter and tighter", said Kim. "I was still able to move and hit the ball, so I don't believe in giving up. I'll take a few days, a lot of treatment, stretches and make sure it's all relaxed."

19 Aug 2010

MONTRÉAL • KIM IN QUARTERS!

Aug. 19  In Montréal Kim is through to the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup after beating Estonia's Kaia Kanepi in straigt sets, 6-2 6-1 in 56 minutes. Although Kim did not show her best tennis in this match, she managed to stay strong when it really mattered, taking Kanepi's serve 6 times. She has now won her last 14 matches on summer hardcourts (seven at last year's US Open and seven in a row this summer).

In the quarterfinals, Kim will face the Russian Vera Zvonareva, who is the last player to have defeated Kim, at Wimbledon. Their match will be the third one on Centre Court, so it should be played around 2-3PM, local time.

Check Kim's comments:
"It's a bit of an adjustment, playing under the lights at night and then today in the heat, but I'm pleased the way I played. It's always nice to win a tournament and gradually feel your level improve. And to have a match like last night and the Cincinnati final, to be behind and fight back and win, helps a lot going forward."

MONTRÉAL • KIM FIGHTS BACK TO REACH 3RD ROUND!

Aug. 19  Kim is through to the 3rd round of the Rogers Cup in Montréal. She was on the verge of defeat, trailing 4-6 1-4 to Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Kim even saved two 1-5 points in the second set, in which she eventually prevailed (6-4) before taking the decider 6-3.

In the next round, Kim will face Kaia Kanepi, who defeated Bammer in straight sets. The last encounter between the Belgian and the Estonian dates back to Hasselt 2006, where Kim won in three sets. Their 3rd round match is the 3rd one on Centre Court, and should start around 3PM, local time.

Here are some post-match reactions:
"I'm happy the way I fought and raised my level towards the end. We are professional athletes and we work hard for these types of tournament", Clijsters said after the match. "The crowd was amazing. We even had the Mexican wave going at one point. They were really enjoying themselves tonight." 
"Bethanie came up with some amazing shots. She's a player who can rise to the occasion. If she plays the level she played tonight in those first two sets, I don't see why she shouldn't be in the Top 10 or Top 15." 
"It's frustrating. I hate losing", Mattek-Sands said. "I have to go back and watch some film of the match. She started hitting winners - the third set was tough."

17 Aug 2010

MONTRÉAL'S DRAW AND SCHEDULE

Aug. 17  After her winning week in Cincinnati, Kim is now playing the Rogers Cup in Montreal. It will be her second and final preparation tournament before the US Open in New York.

Kim is the 5th seed and has therefore a first round bye. In the second round, she will face Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who defeated her compatriot Melanie Oudin in straight sets. The match will be played today, at 7PM, local time on Centre Court.

Meanwhile, you can check the whole draw here.


RANKINGS • KIM CLIMBS TO NO.4!

Aug. 16 • Thanks to her run to the Cincy title, Kim has now climbed in the official WTA rankings, moving up three places - from the No.7 to the No.4 spot, her highest ranking since coming back to tennis!


16 Aug 2010

KIM STORMS BACK TO WIN CINCINNATI TITLE!

Aug. 16 • A year ago, Kim Clijsters made an electric return to professional tennis in Cincinnati, winning three matches before losing in the quarterfinals. This week she returned to the $2,000,000 tournament and went all the way to the title, beating fellow former No.1 Maria Sharapova in a nail-biting final, saving three match points to claim the trophy, 2-6 7-6(4) 6-2.


After a slew of upsets in the early rounds, Clijsters, the No.4 seed, was a firm favorite for the title from the quarterfinals on. She didn't lose a set until the final, where her toughest challenger - Maria Sharapova, the No.10 seed but like Clijsters a former No.1 and multiple Grand Slam winner, awaited. Sharapova had also won their last three meetings, and all in straight sets, too.

And the trend resumed. Sharapova powered through the first set and built a 5-3 lead in the second, holding three match points there - but a rain delay may have halted her winning momentum, as Clijsters was right back in the match upon resumption, battling back to push the set to a tie-break then battling back from 0-3 there, taking the match to a third set and cruising to victory.


"I was so close to losing and then this dark cloud came", said Clijsters, who finished the match off with a big running forehand down the line. "I thought I was hitting well from the baseline with her but my serve wasn't working well. During the delay I had to regroup and refocus, and when we came back to the court I played aggressively and turned it around. I'm really happy to win."

Clijsters became the first player to win three titles this year, already winning Brisbane and Miami. She improved to 4-0 in finals since coming back last summer, taking the US Open last year. She is now 38-17 in career finals.

Sharapova was in her Tour-leading fifth final of the year and is now 2-3 in those, winning Memphis and Strasbourg but a runner-up in Birmingham (to Li Na), Stanford (to Vika Azarenka) and now here. She is now 22-11 in career finals.

"I had a wonderful week. It was my first week here and I had a wonderful welcome from all the fans and tournament", Sharapova said at the trophy ceremony. "Congratulations to Kim on a great match and great tournament, I look forward to playing her again soon. I'll definitely be back next year."

(via wtatour.com)




14 Aug 2010

CINCY • KIM IN THE FINAL!


Aug. 14  Kim advances to the final of the Western and Southern Financial Group Open in Cincinnati. Ana Ivanovic, her opponent in the semis, was forced to retire after just 3 games, due to a left foot injury.  Although it did surely not happen the way she wanted it, Kim reaches her 3rd final of the year and will face Maria Sharapova who defeated her compatriot Palyuchenkova in straight sets in semis! Both players have already won 2 titles this year and it will be their 8th meeting (Kim leads 4-3). The final will take place at 3PM, local time!


CINCY • KIM DEFEATS PENNETTA TO REACH SEMIS, FACES IVANOVIC!


Aug. 14  In Cincinnati, Kim advances to the semifinals after a though 2-set battle against Flavia Pennetta who led in both sets, but was eventually defeated 7-6(6) 6-4.

In the semis, Kim will face the Serbian Ana Ivanovic, who's having a rather unexpected good week in Cincy, reaching the semifinals after beating Amanmuradova in straight sets.
The match is scheduled today at 1PM, local time.


13 Aug 2010

CINCY • KIM-PENNETTA IN QUARTERS!


Aug. 13  On a day that saw no less than 5 Top 10 seeds lose, Kim Clijsters was quite in control of her third round match yesterday in Cincinnati. She only lost 2 games to 18-year-old Christina McHale of the United States, whom she defeated 6-1 6-1 in just over an hour.

In the quarterfinals, Kim will face Italy's Flavia Pennetta - the No.11 seed - who upset recent Wimbledon finalist, Vera Zvonareva. In their only previous meeting (Toronto 2005), Kim beat Flavia in straight sets. The match will be played today on Centre Court, around 2PM local time



Check out Kim's comments on American hope McHale:
"She has a big forehand, a little different than most of the girls we see out there these days. Good kick serve. Her backhand, especially when she has to move out wide, is a bit of a weakness. She'll probably become a little stronger where she can produce the same power on that backhand side as on her forehand - that's obviously where I scored a lot of points today, when I pulled her out wide on those backhands. I like seeing young girls doing well and seeing the big names struggling against them. She's obviously part of the next generation building up."



12 Aug 2010

CINCY • KIM DEFEATS SAFINA, REACHES 3RD ROUND!


Aug. 12  Last night at the Western and Southern Financial Group Women's Open in Cincinnati, Kim defeated Dinara Safina in a 2nd-round match that was her first since Wimbledon. Kim, the No.4 seed, had a slow start in both sets but managed to rebound to take them both, upsetting the Russian 7-5 6-2.


Awaiting Kim in the next round is American hope Christina McHale, a 3-round match that will take place on Centre Court, not before 7PM again... 

Here are Kim's and Dinara's reactions after the match:
"Obviously last year she was playing a lot better than she has been in recent months, but she's looking for a few wins in a row so she can get that confidence back," Kim said. "I knew if I could hang in there when I was down, I could do it. I try different ways to get through the matches sometimes, knowing I can rely on different things now that I'm a little bit older and have more experience."  
"Today's match wasn't bad. It was very solid. She played better in the crucial moments," Safina said. "I need to continue to try and play as many matches as I can. I will keep working hard day by day and I feel my game is getting better. Last year I had a hundred matches; now I'm still coming back, since Stuttgart." 
(Kim about her taking very little time between points) "I've been like that since I was six years old. It's one of my strengths and at the same time a weakness too, at certain times in matches. I like to get the next thing going. I'm not going to think about points I lose. I forget those and go on with the next shot."


11 Aug 2010

CINCY • KIM-SAFINA TONIGHT!

Aug. 11  Today's Order of Play has been published; Kim will play Safina on Centre Court in the 5th match of the day, not before 7PM, local time.
If you can't watch the match, here's a link to the official WTA live score...

9 Aug 2010

CINCY • KIM-SAFINA IN THE 2ND ROUND!

Aug. 9  As you probably know, Kim has a first round bye at the Western & Southern Financial Group in Cincinnati. Still her 2nd round opponent is now known; it will be the Russian Dinara Safina, who has defeated Roberta Vinci in straight sets. Kim will come in action against Safina probably on Wednesday. It will be the ninth meeting between both ex-No.1 players...

Also, have a look at the following videos to get an overview of Kim's training session in Cincy (with the very friendly Francesca Schiavone), as well as some interview during the All-Access Hour :



On a side note, here is the tournament's official Facebook page, so that you can follow all the action as it happens!


7 Aug 2010

CINCY WOMEN'S SINGLES DRAW

Aug. 7  The women's singles draw has just been published in Cincinnati. 
Kim has got a first round bye, and here are some of the players she might possibly have to face later in the tournament: Safina, Petrova, Pennetta/Zvonareva, Jankovic/Azarenka, Wozniacki/Sharapova.

You can check the whole draw here.