NEW YORK, Sept 10 - A relieved Kim Clijsters
finally shook off the tag of best player never to win a grand
slam title when she stormed to a popular victory at the U.S.
Open on Saturday.
The Belgian broke her duck on the big stage with a
demolition of Frenchwoman Mary Pierce, putting the seal on an
astonishing comeback from a career-threatening injury and the
mental scars of four grand slam final defeats.
"I think that I just proved to myself that I can do it and
that I'm up there with the best of them," Clijsters said after
her 6-3 6-1 victory.
"All the hard work and everything, that's more satisfying
to me, it's paid off.
"I got a little frustrated every time I got asked in press
conferences about it.
"I had the idea that the media was making it a bigger deal
of it than I was. I was very motivated and I was working hard
to try to do it. So now you don't have to ask that anymore."
Beaten in the final of the French Open in 2001 by American
Jennifer Capriati, Clijsters' nerve was called into question
when she was defeated three times by compatriot Justine
Henin-Hardenne in three grand slam finals in 2003 and 2004.
A serious injury to her left wrist required surgery in 2004
and she missed most of the year only to return fitter and
stronger in 2005, winning six hard court titles in the run-up
to the U.S. Open.
"Maybe it wasn't my time yet in those grand slams," she
said.
"Losing those grand slams, not just the finals but also
losing to Serena (Williams) in Australia (when she led 5-1 in
the final set of their semi-final in 2003), those definitely
motivate you to work harder and to work on a lot of things."
Clijsters said the break may have helped her in the long
run.
"I think everything that happened, happened for a reason,"
she said.
"Maybe that's why I'm sitting here now, you know, with this
trophy next to me.
"A lot of times, winning Indian Wells, Miami, it's just so,
so hard to believe everything that I've done, this year.
"I think that's the hard work, again. I think it pays
off."