Clijsters causes Venus shock
KIM CLIJSTERS celebrated her biggest win since coming out of retirement last night when she defeated third seed Venus Williams in the fourth round of the US Open.
Playing in her first Grand Slam for two since hanging up her racket, the Belgian showed a combination of her brilliant best and nerves of steel to complete a 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 victory over the American to earn a quarter-final clash with China’s Na Li.
There was no such problem, however, for Venus’s sister Serena, after the defending champion smashed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-0.
Meanwhile, men’s No3 seed Rafael Nadal admitted he was still suffering the effects of his abdominal injury on his way to beating fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.
Nadal first suffered the injury in last month’s Cincinnati Masters and had to call on a trainer in the third set as he struggled to a 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 win over the 32nd seed.
“I feel it a little bit now,” Nadal said of his injury. “I will try my best to recover for the next match against either Gael Monfils or Jose Acasuso.
“I’m here to work hard and try my best all the time. It was a difficult match but it’s important to win and I’m very happy to be in the fourth round.”
There were also victories last night for seeds Juan Martin del Potro and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, although ninth seed Gilles Simon was forced to retire hurt with a knee injury against Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero when two sets to one down.