NEW YORK, Sept 9 — Venus Williams must wish Kim Clijsters had stayed retired and enjoyed a relaxing life as a millionaire mum.
The Belgian returned to grand slam action for the first time in 31 months and has left each and every one of her opponents at the US Open embarrassed.
Williams’s status as the world number three looked a bit of a joke when she dropped the opening set to love against a woman who now stashes her suitcase with more toys than rackets.
With her 18-month daughter Jada being looked after at the tournament crèche, Clijsters completed a 6-0 0-6 6-4 fourth-round win over the seven-times grand slam champion.
While her victory was embraced by the hollering fans on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it is a double-edged sword for the WTA tour.
What does it say about the state of women’s tennis when a player who has been out of the game for more than two years can beat rivals who are supposed to be the standard bearers for the sport?
WTA chief Stacey Allaster was adamant that former world number one Clijsters’s success was good for the sport.
“It’s a fantastic story for Kim, a fantastic story for women’s tennis. We all knew how gifted she was as an athlete when she left the tour to have her family,” Allaster told reporters. “Fans are embracing her and loving her back and I think it sends an incredible message to working mums that you can have a career and be successful at your profession.”
However, since Clijsters does not even own a ranking yet, if she continues her cull of the seeds at the Open this week to become the first mother to win a major since 1980, the WTA should just rip up the standings and think of a new master-plan. — Reuters
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