NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters) – The beaming smile of Kim Clijsters once again lit up Flushing Meadows on Tuesday, while Andy Murray cut a sorry figure as his U.S. Open run was abruptly halted.
Murray had been tipped as one of the favourites to win his first major title here but the Briton scarcely resembled a player rated second best in the world as he shouted his way to a 7-5 6-2 6-2 last 16 defeat by Croatian Marin Cilic.
While American Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe commentated “we did not see this one coming,” Murray said: “Today I could have been better in pretty much every part of the game, whether it was mental or serve, forehand, backhand returns. I just struggled today. I played poorly.”
Murray’s abysmal performance left Cilic to face another rising 20-year-old, Juan Martin del Potro, in the quarter-finals. The Argentine sixth seed cantered to a routine 6-3 6-3 6-3 win over ex-world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.
But it was another former top-ranked player who has been providing the feel-good factor at this year’s championships.
Belgian mother-of-one Clijsters, who flew into New York with more toys stashed in her suitcase than rackets, showcased her lightening court speed as she dispatched China’s Li Na 6-2 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.
While many tennis fans are wondering how a 26-year-old woman who has been out of action for over two years can create so much havoc at a grand slam, men’s world number one Roger Federer had an easy explanation.
“It’s like riding a bike; once you know how to ride a bike, you never forget that,” said the new father of twins.
“That’s why I’m not that surprised. I think it’s a beautiful story. It’s nice that she hasn’t lost the love for the game. Going out of the game at 23, that’s for me just shocking. It’s nice to see her back in the game.”
Federer and the fans may be delighted to see Clijsters back but her vanquished rivals are unlikely to agree.
CLIJSTERS MASTER
CLASS
After taking down 14th seed Marion Bartoli and world number three Venus Williams in previous rounds, Li was the latest to be on the receiving end of the Clijsters masterclass.
Next up for Clijsters, who needed a wildcard to play here as she does not even have a ranking yet, will be either three-times champion Serena Williams or Italian 10th seed Flavia Pennetta.
No longer bogged down by the litany of injuries that forced her out of the game in 2007, the 2009 incarnation of Clijsters described her amazing run to the last four as “wow.”
However, just 15 months ago the thought of becoming the first mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong in 1980 had not even entered her head.
“I felt like an elephant just trying to move. Even two steps was terrible,” recalled Clijsters about her first experience with a racket following the birth of her daughter Jada.
On Monday, it was the usually fleet-footed Murray who lumbered around court.
Carrying a left wrist injury which hindered his two-handed backhand, Murray went into meltdown after failing to take two set points on the Cilic serve at 5-4 in the opening frame.
With Murray emitting a series of anguished cries of “aaargh” and “ayeeeeeee” every time he missed a shot, those walking on the National Tennis Centre grounds might have thought Arthur Ashe Stadium had temporarily been turned into an ER. Murray could have done with some medical attention but instead dropped serve at 5-5 and from then on the 16th seeded Cilic surrendered only four more games. “I’m disappointed. I don’t know how long or how quickly it will take me to get over it,” said a glum Murray.
The Scot could be in for some more heartache later on Monday because if Rafael Nadal beats Gael Monfils to reach the last eight, the Spaniard will reclaim the number two ranking.
