Tennis: Belgium’s Kim Clijsters makes history in US Open

During her time off Clijsters got married and had daughter Jada. She is the first mother to win a major tournament since 1980.

When it was over, Clijsters collapsed to the ground in tears of happiness. Her 18-month-old daughter, Jada, watched from a suite at the court, but later came down to take part in the celebration.

"It still seems so surreal, because it wasn’t in the plan, said Clijsters. “I wanted to come back here, get a feel for it, play a Grand Slam so I wouldn’t have to come back next year and learn the new experiences all over.

The match against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark was of a different style than the games against the two Williams sisters, which were filled with short, hard-hitting rallies.

"Against the Williams sisters, you feel that if you hang in there, they might give you some easy points," Clijsters said. "She (Wozniacki) didn’t do that. You had to be patient, but not play along with her game."

Clijsters relaxed attitude to the game showed a nothing-to-lose mentality. Having started a second tennis career she had to start from the bottom rung again, although she maintained her winning mentality from before.

"She’s playing because she thinks its fun and because she likes it," said Wozniacki, who is too young to have played Clijsters during her first career.

"I really think she might be a better player now than she was before."

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