By Simon Cambers
NEW YORK, Sept 7 - Fourth seed Kim Clijsters
produced a thrilling recovery to beat Wimbledon champion Venus
Williams 4-6 7-5 6-1 in a drama-filled quarter-final at the
U.S. Open on Tuesday.
In a match that finished well after midnight and contained
13 service breaks, the Belgian recovered from a 4-2 deficit in
the second set to advance to a semi-final against Russian top
seed Maria Sharapova.
"I just tried to keep fighting and keep running for each
ball," Clijsters said.
"I was making some unforced at some important times in the
second set but luckily I served it out."
Clijsters, who missed most of 2004 because of wrist
injuries, said it was one of the biggest wins of her career.
"After my surgery, I enjoy each and every win much more but
this definitely means much more than any win before my
surgery," she said.
Tenth seed Williams, who beat her sister Serena in the
previous round, broke Clijsters' serve to win the first set and
looked in total command when she raced to a 4-2 second-set
lead.
But Clijsters, who has won six titles this year, suddenly
found her form.
Showing some outstanding agility, including doing the
splits at one stage, she roared back to level the match at one
set apiece.
Williams began to look a little jaded in the third and the
Belgian took advantage, breaking three times to clinch her
place in the last four.
Clijsters has beaten Sharapova in each of their three
previous meetings, but said she expected a tough match against
the Russian.
"She is a very tough player and a very talented girl," she
said.
"She has a really good fighting spirit. I'm just going to
go for it, run after every shot and see where it takes me."