Kim Clijsters Wins U.S. Open 2009

Kim is Back!

Kim Clijsters, Belgian mom and one of the nicest women on the WTA tour according to fellow players and colleagues, is back with a vengeance. Entering the U.S. Open on a wildcard, she plowed through the draw, dropping Russian after Russian before encountering the dreaded, usually unbeatable in a Slam American powerhouse, Serena Williams in a sharply contested, highly controversial semifinal which you can read more about in our article on Serena's Controversial Outburst against a line judge.

Clijsters - First Mom to Win Slam Since Goolagong

Unseeded Kim Clijsters took out ninth seed Carolina Wozniacki (the 19-year old Russian teenager that took out American hopeful Melanie Oudin in the quarters) 7-5, 6-3, in front of a packed New York house Sunday night (matches had been delayed one day due a flurry of rain on finals weekend).

Kim had emerged from retirement (a 27 month break to mother and raise her young 1.5 year old daughter) merely a month ago before going on a run to her second major title, which also happened to be a second U.S. Open title. Clijsters, 26 years old, is the first mom to win a Slam since Evonne Goolagong captured the Wimbledon crown in 1980.