3/17/2001
Clijsters Defeated by Williams in a Hectic Final
Kim Clijsters lost the biggest match of her career to date on Sunday, March 17. It was the final of Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells where Clijsters lost 6-4 4-6 2-6 to Serena Williams of the USA, however, the match was crazier than the great points played.
After defeating the no. 1 player in the world, Martina Hingis, in the semis, Clijsters looked to have a chance against her, what looks to be a future rival, Williams.
As soon as the two players walked on court though, it was obvious that the match was going to be streaky and difficult. The two youngsters walked on the court and the crowd started booing Williams. This was because of her sister Venus' default of their semifinal match minutes before it was to be played, and many of the attendees were angry about that. Throughout the match, Williams would never truly win the crowd's support.
Clijsters won the first set 6-4, even though she had been broken. The crowd gave her a standing ovation as she jogged to her seat as usual. In the second set, Clijsters had a great oppurtunity to go up 5-3 with a break point, and serve out the match, but a useless drop shot kept her from that. "I had a chance in the second set to break her at 4-3, but she just played like too good a point. I could do nothing about it," said Clijsters.
Williams ended up breaking Clijsters, and it was pretty much her match from there on. Clijsters lost the third set 6-2. Clijsters praised Williams citing, "Throughout the third set, she was playing better, playing more and more consistent, she had more first serves in. That's all the credit to her."
Even after Williams won though, a brief, initial crowd of cheers was unfortunately overtaken by a wild gust of jeers. Clijsters later said of the booing, "[Serena's] a very nice person and everything. I don't think it's up to the crowd to put pressure on her." To read Kim's full interview after this match, click here!
~Clijsters City
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