Kim Clijsters wins US women’s title

New York : Belgium’s Kim Clijsters clinched her second back to back U.S. Open women’s title crushing seventh-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-2 6-1 on Saturday.

Second-seeded Clijsters powered 17 winners while making fifteen unforced errors against the Russian lass to match the three games lost by American Chris Evert in her 6-3, 6-0 demolition of Australian Evonne Goolagong in 1976.

The twenty-seven-year Belgian expanded her Flushing Meadows match-winning streak to 21 in a row, having also won the title in 2005 before missing a year due to injury and two more to start a family.

“It’s been an incredible year, being back in the Open and for the first time I’m able to defend my title,” Clijsters said holdling the glittering trophy.

Clijsters became richer by $2.2 million for her win in addition to the $1.7 million winner’s prize she received besides a $500,000 bonus for finishing second in the U.S. Open Series of tournaments leading up to the grand slam event.

Clijsters cruised through the first set in 27 minutes after twice breaking Zvonareva’s serve.

The Russian, appearing in her first final at Flushing Meadows, gifted Clijsters a break in the sixth game with a double fault and three unforced errors.

Then Clijsters wrapped up the set with a service break when Zvonareva slapped a backhand into the net.

Another double fault by the Russian, who was also runner-up at Wimbledon this season, in the sixth game of the second set, put Clijsters up by two breaks and she quickly ended the 59-minute match with a forehand winner in the next game.

It was the quickest women’s final since officials started keeping track of match times in 1980.