Thursday, September 30, 2010

Happy Birthday Martina Hingis!


Today marks the day that my favourite athlete turns the big 3-0 on the 30th of September (huh).  Boy, time really does fly.

Feels like only yesterday she was a fearless teenager beating opponents left and right, and on top of the tennis world.

This year Martina is celebrating her birthday outside of her home country of Switzerland participating in another horse jumping competition.

Here's to continued success in whatever endeavour she decides to undertake next.  Happy Birthday!.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Martina Hingis Adidas Pro Tennis Camp with itusa



I can so see Hingis doing this for up and coming youngsters at her mother's tennis academy.

I know she has said she would not be interested in being a coach, but I still think she's be great at it.

If she ever gets bored with the horse-jumping this could definitely be something she could fall back on.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Monday, September 27, 2010

DWTS 11: Week 2 Quickstep & Jive

Since I already included all the full names last week.  I'm not going to bother with the last names of all the celebs from now on.

Rick & Cheryl were up first with a Jive.  Although he did an awesome job with what is considered one of the hardest ballroom dances, I still think he did better last week.

Also I found it a bit weird to be starting with Jive and Quickstep so early in the competition.

Usually those are saved towards the very end given their level of difficulty.  Based on that I have to commend Rick on making the dance look good.

For a guy his size I expected the whole thing to be awkward, so kudos.  Oh, and nice to see Eliza Dushku finally in the audience supporting her man :).

21/30 was their score a magic number that repeated throughout the night.

Florance & Corky did a Jive that proved once and for all that Mrs. Brady can move!.  I think in her case age really is just a number.

She's succeeding in areas where past contestants her age have miserably failed.  I gotta applaud her for that. She received 19/30 for her efforts.

Brandy & Maks let the head-butting begin!.  We all knew that was coming, and I'm sure there will be plenty more possible melt downs in store as I predicted.

As for her Jive I have to side with the judges on this one it was alright, but needed to be more precise and sharp to make it anywhere near perfect.  It looked a bit awkward at times.

With that said again this is another case of this dance style showing up too early in the competition.  I get the feeling she would do a much better job with a few more weeks of training.

The outfit was a little weird as well, the knee-high socks were particularly unflattering.  21/30 was their total.

Michael & Chelsie     Jived to Elvis's "You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog" which included Micheal coming out of a doghouse to get his bone (which I personally could have really done without).

While it was designed to help loosen him up.  It didn't really do him any favors.  In the end he still looked like a stiff marionette, with no enthusiasm, and zero charisma.

With 12/30 he's sure to be headed out of the ballroom, unless the audience decides to take pity on him.  I for one won't be sad to see him go.

Audrina & Tony danced the second best Jive of the night.  She continues to improve with each performance.

If she stays consistent she'll be a definite contender that could make it deep into the competition.  23/30 was their result (2nd highest of the night).

Jennifer & Derek words cannot express how much I love these two.  I said it before, and I'll say it again the woman hasn't lost a step.

She danced a Jive that was so energetic it was almost electrifying.  For week two that is simply amazing.

The two of them are so in-tune with one another, it makes it so much fun to watch.  And I have to give Jennifer some major credit she's handling Derek's difficult choreography exceptionally well.

The judges were equally impressed once again giving them the highest score of the night 24/30 (which coincidently was their score last week). 

On a side note I had no idea she had cancer, my respect for her continues to grow. Also I'm curious about the booing that went on during their interview portion.

Could it be the fact that the mike was handed over to Sarah Palin?.  That, or they expected Jennifer to get a higher score, either way can't say I blame them.   

Margaret & Louis performed a Jive.  Good to see her drop the comedy routine, and show that she can indeed dance. 

Step in the right direction, hope she keeps it up.  18/30 like the dance itself better then last week.

Kyle & Lacey like Carrie Ann I love watching this kid.  He's like a ball of boundless energy.  I knew Lacey would be the perfect fit for him as I've mentioned before.

Case and point tonight's awesome modern Quickstep.  With 22/30 I have no doubt they'll be sticking around (hopefully for the long-haul).

 Kurt & Anna Although his Jive kicks could have been sharper as Len pointed out, I'm still very impressed with this guy. 

What is it about Football players that makes them such good dancers?.  21/30 total points.

Mike "The Situation" & Karina still can't stand the guy, but at least unlike last week he made an effort with the Quickstep. 18/30


Bristol & Mark capped the night off with a decently done Quickstep. 

I thought it was better then last week, she seemed a lot less nervous.  And showed that she can definitely dance.

I agree with Carrie Ann, there's something about this girl, that makes you wanna root for her.  Maybe it's the girl next door thing.  22/30

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Martina Hingis happy to play in the Showdown of Champions

KUALA LUMPUR (SEPT 23, 2010) - Former world No. 1 Martina Hingis can’t wait to strut her stuff in Kuala Lumpur when she takes part in the Showdown of Champions 2010, Night of Aces, at the Malawati Stadium on Oct 8.

    The Swiss star is particularly pleased to be able to team up with her good buddy Anna Kournikova. The glamorous duo had a successful doubles partnership in their heyday.

     Describing the format of Showdown of Champions 2010 as a truly unique affair, Hingis said:

    “I truly enjoy participating in some great special events like the Showdown of Champions and am very much looking forward to playing in Malaysia.

   “The event has such a different format, features men and women playing together and I believe that the mixed doubles will prove to be very entertaining.

    “It will also be great to meet up with Anna. We share two Grand Slam doubles titles and 11 Tour doubles titles together. It will be great to meet up with her in Kuala Lumpur.”

     Besides Hingis and Kournikova, the men’s line-up for the Showdown of Champions 2010 features Ivan Lendl, Pat Cash, Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic.

   Hingis is particularly impressed with the format of the Showdown of Champions 2010.

   “I congratulate Malaysia on developing such a unique format that highlights ladies and men’s tennis, showcases singles and doubles, features the winners of so many Grand Slam titles, puts mixed doubles right at the forefront and is all presented in one single night. I think it will be an amazing atmosphere and I am looking forward to playing some good tennis.”

    “It is always great when the men and the ladies play together. This is one of the factors that make the Grand Slams so special. 

It will be very exciting for the spectators and I am really
looking forward to meeting up with Anna and the four guys. They are some of the great players of their generation and it will be fantastic to share the court with them.”

    Hingis, who turns 30 at the end of the month, was the dominant women’s tennis player from 1996-2002, winning 15 Grand Slam titles – five singles, nine doubles and one mixed doubles. Ligament injuries to both her ankles forced her to retire when she was just 22-years-old.

    She attempted a comeback in 2006 but she halted that bid less than a year later and now only plays sporadically.

    “I have no formal plans to make a second comeback to the WTA Tour. But I must confess that sometimes you wonder – what if …

     “If I attempted to make a comeback to full-time tennis, how much could I achieve and how far could I go? Tennis was all of my life for a very long time. But the amount of travel necessary to play full time on the Tour makes me think – is this something I would like to do again? It is a huge commitment,” said Hingis, who was world No. 1 for 209 weeks.

      The Showdown of Champions 2010 is scheduled to start at 6.00pm on Oct 8, with Ivanisevic taking on Cash in a best of three tie, followed by Becker versus Lendl. The doubles will see Ivanisevic and Hingis playing Cash and Kournikova (one regular set), followed by Becker/Kournikova versus Lendl/Hingis (one regular set).

      Complementing action on the court at the Malawati Stadium will be the special appearance by British rapper Jay Sean in a concert to complete a one-night spectacle combining sports and sheer entertainment.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Martina Hingis wins at Marbella Masters

Some of the players participating in this first edition of the MARBELLA MASTERS 2010, met the press today, Friday 17th September, first day of the tournament…


Martina Hingis, Sergi Bruguera, Pat Cash and Richard Krajicek , posed  smiling for the cameras and gave individual interviews.


Hingis, with her captivating smile, explained that she knows the Costa del Sol quite good, as she has been on holidays in Estepona, where she was horse riding, an activity that she frequently does.  The tournament she has the best memory of, is one on which she won a car, although she wasn´t even old enough to drive it.


She admires Kim Clijsters for her capacity to combine her personal life with a successful career, but considers that in the actual women´s tennis there are many players with great qualities and a variety of play.


When she is asked for an advice for the young players, she says: “Be surrounded by trustworthy people, like your family, who can be your support at any time.”


The second confrontation of the day was an exhibition match between Pilar Dominguez Spain champion “cadete” of 2009 and Martina Hingis.


A set that the swiss player resolved with a  9-3 win who following the match praised the young Spaniards talent. Nerves betrayed the young player from Granada although she will have her 2nd chance to beat Hingis on Sunday.



Third and final day of the MARBELLA MASTERS 2010. Three quarters to capacity at the Tennis Club in Puente Romano to view four interesting matches…


The afternoon kicked off with an exhibition match where Martina Hingis met Pilar Dominguez who trains at the High Performance Centre of the Andalucian Tennis Federation.


To the surprise of everyone, including Hingis, Dominguez managed to lead 6-4 in the 9 game set. From there on however, Martina maneuvered her opponent from side to side until tiring her out achieving a final win at 4-9.


Later on and in private, Pilar Dominguez confessed that she thought the set was 6 games and thought she was the winner against Hingis, even approaching the net to shake her hand until the umpire clarified the confusion. What a disappointment for her!


Martina has been one of the most acclaimed participants of the Marbella Masters, adored by the public they constantly applauded her strokes, her smiles and encouraging words to Pilar Dominguez. A pleasure to see her again on the courts.

MarbellaMasters.es

Monday, September 20, 2010

DWTS 11: Week 1 Viennese Waltz and Cha-Cha

Well here we go with the fall premiere of a brand new season of Dancing with the Stars.  Unlike last season I'm actually excited about this particular cast.

Some more then others but more on that later.  On to the couples themselves.  This year we are starting out with 12.

Audrina Partidge (The Hills) & Tony Dovolani kicked things off first with the Cha-Cha.  And can I just say how freakin' happy I am that Tony finally has a decent (not to mention young partner).

It's probably way too early to say, but with her potential Tony might actually have a shot at the trophy this season.

But again I know I'm jumping the gun.  Her dancing although good was a little bit stiff (as is to be expected of course).

For being the first ones out of the gate she handled the whole situation really well (others have spectacularly failed) so big props to her on that.

I think she'll definitely only get better with more practice.  So hopefully the audience will give her a chance to continue on and improve.

Her score wasn't too bad either (not that that really matters at this stage).  But a 19/30. Not too shabby. We've seen a lot worse.

Kurt Warner (NFL quarterback) & Anna Trebunskaya were next on the dance floor with the first Viennese Waltz of the night.

The result of which got the judges, or more precisely Mr. Fuddy Daddy aka Len Goodman all up in a snit. And that's on night one, I can already tell this season is gonna be fun :D.

Personally I thought he didn't do too badly, and his personality is interesting enough to watch so I think he'll probably stick around for bit.

He got the same score as above so obviously despite Len's misgivings he's doing something right.  Or at least heading in the right direction.


Kyle Massey & Lacey Schwimmer I think I mentioned in a post a few weeks back that I thought these two could work well together.  I love it when I'm right.

I knew they would be fun, but what I didn't anticipate was how much charisma and energy this guy would have.  In that respect I think he fits Lacey like a glove.

Lacey hasn't had a good partner since Lance Bass a few years back so I'm so happy for her.  And judging by her reaction at the end of the dance I think she's quite happy as well.

As Len said if he can keep up the same level of energy and enjoyment he could go quite far in the competition. A score of 23/30 is a good start toward accomplishing that.

Rick Fox & Cheryl Burke I was actually half joking about the heels in my post from earlier in the month, but it seems the producers and I were on the same track.

How he pulled off a smooth and elegant Viennese Waltz with a person of his height I'll never know.

But I applaud them both.  It could not have been easy in fact I thought that would be a real hindrance in performing any type of dance, so it was nice to be proven wrong.

The white/cream suit was working for him as well (no wonder he has Eliza Dushku as his girlfriend).  Now I'm really looking forward to seeing how he handles the Latin dance next week.

The judges seemed blown away they give him 22/30

Margaret Cho & Louis Van Amstel were up next with another Viennese Waltz.  Weirdly entertaining is the only way to describe it I think.

I'm not sure what was funnier the facial expressions, or the shawl over head bit.

Overall though I was disappointed, and I agree with the judges I wish she chose to simply dance instead of the whole comedy shtick.

Because she's another celebrity with some real potential, and this really didn't showcase it.  I already know she is an awesome comedian I wanted to see the dancer.

I think this choice would have been much better suited for something like the Paso Doble, or even the Lindy Hop.

Hopefully she'll stick around long enough to try it out then (with her fan base something tells me that won't be an issue).  The score pretty much supports what I said 15/30.

Brandy & Maksim Chmerkovskiy all their head-butting took me back to season 5 with Maks and Mel B. 

Who I believe was as much of a perfectionist as Brandy, this could actually work out really well.

Her Viennese Waltz was sweet, but could have been a little more soft and flowing.

Still a nice solid effort for a first week, with a little more work she could be potential contender.  23/30 total score.

Bristol Palin & Mark Ballas I thought her Cha-Cha was not bad if a little stiff.

She can definitely shake it, once she learns to loosen up (and maybe replaces her shyness with some boldness) she could be great to watch. 18/30 was their score.

Also in regards to Mark, dude! what happened to your hair?!.  I liked the hair.


Florence Henderson & Corky Ballas Carol Brady has a potty mouth who knew? *lol*She's quite the character, and unlike Cloris Leachmen she can actually move.

Actually I can't believe she's 76!.  You'd think that after Betty White nothing would surprise me, but wow I hope I look that good!.  I had no idea she was so naughty either.

Anyone else notice her getting frisky with Tom Bergeron before they went to commercial? :D.  Love it!.  In fact I wanna see more so I hope people vote. 

With 18/30 she will need some help.  I was so entertained by her personality alone I can't recall what dance she did *lol* (I think it was a Cha-Cha).  And a very well done one at that.  I hope she's given a chance to continue.


Michael Bolton & Chelsie Hightower followed with a Viennese Waltz which turned out better then I thought it would be.  Wasn't great, but wasn't horrible either.

He does need to relax and smile more though as the judges themselves pointed out.

Personality wise he's kind of a bore, honestly if I had to choose for someone to get the boot tomorrow it would be him.  With a score of 16/30 he might be well on his way.


Karina Smirnoff & Mike "The Situation" This guy is like one of those annoying guys you just can't wait to get away from at the gym.

Or the annoying jock from High school.  The lack of rehearsal certainly didn't help him in the dancing department (in fact I don't even remember which dance he did).  I think it was supposed to be a Cha-Cha

And although there's a tiny part of me that would like to see how he would do with more training and if he actually applied himself instead of relying on his abs *rolls eyes*.

His confidence may be interpreted as smugness (it certainly come off that way to me) and it might look the same to the American audience.

Then again they might keep him around for the eye candy ('cause it certainly isn't the brains). I won't be too sad if he is the first one to get the boot tomorrow.

The judges were equally unimpressed with a 15/30 total score.


Jennifer Grey & Derek Hough the couple (which I totally called before they were even officially announced).

They really are a perfect match for one another.  Both goofy and energetic, but totally professional at the same time 

This is also the couple I was most excited to see (so was the rest of the American audience if the cheers are anything to judge by). 


After all these years the "Dirty Dancing" star's still got it.  She danced a lovely elegant Viennese Waltz that would have made Patrick Swayze proud.

I actually heard that's her main motivation for doing the show in the first place as a tribute to him.  Which I think is quite admirable and brave.

The Viennese Waltz was set to the tune of "These Arms of Mine" a very famous intimate scene from "Dirty Dancing".

Which was a nice yet insensitve gesture on the part of the producers.  I know what they were going for, but it could not have been easy for her to dance to.

As evidenced in the rehearsal footage where she breaks down crying while watching Derek compose his routine.

I teared up right along with her.  That song brings back so many bittersweet memories of Patrick.  The judges seemed as deeply effected as me they give her the highest score of the night 24/30.

Like Len I can't wait to see how she handles the Latin dances.  Regardless I'm rooting for her all the way.  Oh, and nice to see Jamie Lee Curtis supporting her in the audience :).

"The Hoff" aka David Hasselhoff  & Kym Johnson

I think Len summed it up best by saying "it's never too early to panic" *lol*.  I love the guy but that was not good at all.

The audience may decide to give him one more shot but I'm just not sure it would be worth it at this point.  Now strangest things have happened and he may prove me wrong in fact I hope he does.

But things look less then promising at the moment. I am rooting for him though, you never know.  With 15/30 he'll need all the help he can get.



Sunday, September 19, 2010

Kim Clijsters on a mission for more titles

Kim Clijsters wants more major titles and more children, goals that would appear as incompatible as John McEnroe and silence.

Clijsters defeated Vera Zvonareva to win her third US Open championship, then celebrated on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court with her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Jada Lynch, who was not impressed.

At one point Clijsters’ daughter looked at the photographers whose lenses were pointed at her and said, “No photos.”

In Clijsters’ opinion, that was the highlight of the night. None of her 17 winners (to Zvonareva’s 6) were even close.

“If we take pictures she’s the same way,” a smiling Clijsters said a day after her triumph in an interview with a group of reporters at her Midtown hotel. “She just doesn’t want anything of it. She doesn’t like it. I enjoy seeing that. I enjoy seeing her express her emotions.”

The difference in the final was that Clijsters kept her emotions in check much better than Zvonareva, who ruined one racket in a fit of frustration and was steering her shots rather than hitting through the ball, a sure sign of nerves.

Clijsters, 27, could sympathise. She appeared in four major finals before winning her first Grand Slam title, at the 2005 Open. The pressure, she said, overwhelmed her when she was younger.

“I still get nervous,” she said Saturday night, “and get that heavy arm, but I’m able to control it better.”

Clijsters described the emotions that accompany a Grand Slam final as “something that is very hard to describe unless you’ve felt it.”

She added that with age and experience, “you get to know yourself a lot better. You learn to deal with, ‘how can I solve those kinds of emotions in a short time?’ I still have nerves, but I know, OK, this is what I need to do to try to control it.”

In 2009, Clijsters was a surprise winner, an unseeded player who was competing in her third tournament after ending a 27-month retirement. She described this year’s title run as more satisfying because she was saddled with the expectations and the bull’s-eye that come with being the defending champion ...and No 2 seed.

“I think it’s in a way more satisfying that I was able to defend my title,” Clijsters said.

She said her approach to tennis had changed since Jada was born in February 2008. Clijsters schedules practices, fitness sessions and physical therapy around her daughter’s eating and sleeping schedule. Jada will be starting school soon, she said, which will make the juggling act easier for her and her husband, Brian Lynch.

Asked if she can be a full-time mother and a part-time Grand Slam champion, Clijsters smiled and said, “That’s what I’m going to have to be.” She added, “It’s hard to answer and kind of predict what the future will bring, but it’s definitely something as a mother your priorities change.”

Clijsters, who is from Belgium, said she has turned down endorsements that would trade on her status as tennis’ most high-profile working mother because the companies wanted to include Jada.

“That’s something that I don’t want,” Clijsters said, adding: “I also don’t see her as a business object. You saw how she reacts to the cameras. I’m not going to put her through that. It’s not worth it to me for money.”

Clijsters’ younger sister, Elke, who also played professional tennis, is pregnant with her second child “and her kids are going to be a year apart,” she said wistfully.

“I’ve said from the beginning that the Olympics are something I would like to achieve,” Clijsters said of the 2012 London Games. “I don’t think it would be possible to have a baby and then try to come back for the Olympics. I don’t know if I can physically do that.”
Clijsters looked fresh despite having slept only three hours. New York’s vibe — or maybe it’s the blue court and bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium — brings out the best in her.

She has not won a major outside the Open, which led Clijsters to joke that maybe what she needs is for the grass at Wimbledon and the clay at Roland Garros to be painted blue.

“If I can do that and if I can practice hard and work hard, the Grand Slams will always be my focus,” she said. “So now that I’m playing well, obviously I’m not going to just give it up. I just want to keep it up.

deccan herald

Kim Clijsters and Roger Federer both gunning for the 2012 Olympics.

Now there's something to look forward to :).



Thursday, September 16, 2010

Martina Hingis multi-year partnership with Yonex

September 7, 2010 - (Tokyo, Japan/ New York, NY) Yonex Co., Ltd. has today announced a new multi-year partnership with tennis legend and five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis.

A longtime Yonex endorser, Hingis will serve as a featured member of the Yonex advisory staff, play the new EZONE 100 racquet and continue to use the brand's tennis bags, strings and other accessories.

“Martina is a great ambassador for Yonex and we are so excited to continue our partnership with her," said Hiroaki Ebihara, President of Yonex Corporation USA. “She has achieved so much throughout her career and is a fan-favorite wherever she plays. We are looking forward to her support for many years to come."

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Yonex launched the new EZONE series of racquets at the start of the 2010 U.S. Open.

On the heels of this announcement, Hingis will play an exhibition match on Thursday (September 9th) at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Hingis' competition schedule has taken her all over the world this year including teaming with Anna Kournikova for the Ladies Invitation Doubles at Wimbledon, a full schedule of World Team Tennis for the New York Buzz along with many other exhibitions.

The Swiss tennis icon is the owner of five Grand Slam singles titles, nine Grand Slam doubles titles, 43 WTA titles and her 209 weeks ranked as the top female tennis player in the world is fourth all-time.

yonex.com

More hints that she might indeed be returning for some doubles action?. One can only hope.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Martina Hingis to play Kaula Lumpur Exhibition in October

KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 3, 2010): Tennis fans, make a date with a SIX-STAR EVENT, with a star-studded line-up on October 8.

Six of the biggest names in world tennis – Boris Becker, Ivan Lendl, Pat Cash, Goran Ivanisevic, Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova – will descend upon Malaysia for the Showdown of Champions 2010, billed A Night of Aces.

Complementing action on the court at the Malawati Stadium will be the special appearance by British rapper Jay Sean in a concert to complete a one-night spectacle combining sports and sheer entertainment.

Six-time Grand Slam winner Becker, the once all-conquering Lendl, Aussie hero Cash, former Wimbledon champ Ivanisevic and Hingis are looking forward to their maiden trip to Kuala Lumpur, whereas Kournikova is keen to compete after a brief appearance as event ambassador for the launch of the Showdown of Champions, Asia versus Russia – the Glam Slam last year.

The annual spectacle is organised by LD Sports Sdn Bhd and supported by Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.

In announcing the line-up in Kuala Lumpur today, LD Sports chairman, Datuk Mohd Taufik Omar, said:

“We are pleased to be able to showcase the six stars for this year’s Showdown of Champions, which is a sign of our commitment in promoting sports tourism.

“The line-up is also an ample illustration of our efforts in having the best tennis players here to help promote the sport to the masses.”

The event is scheduled to start at 6.00pm on Oct 8, with Ivanisevic taking on Cash in a best of three tie, followed by Becker versus Lendl. The doubles will see Ivanisevic and Hingis playing Cash and Kournikova (one regular set), followed by Becker/Kournikova versus Lendl/Hingis (one regular set).

showdownkl.com

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Martina Hingis U.S. Open mixed doubles fun with Anna Kournikova

Martina & Anna posing with Pat Cash & Mats Wilander
Love the all-black attire reminds me of darth-Federer circa U.S. Open '07 (I think)






I actually got to see this match thanks to the internet :). Pure undiluted fun!.

They ended up losing to the two male veterans, but it wasn't really about that anyway (plus I totally think they cheated:P).

Pat Cash kept targeting all the balls at Martina, and she handled it like the pro she's always been.

Even when at one point the ball actually broke apart during one of Pat Cash's returns!.

It was so wonderful seeing Martina out on Arthur Ashe again, she looked to be having such a blast. Smiling and laughing the whole time.

Made me miss her all the more (really hope she makes up her mind about the doubles soon).

Monday, September 13, 2010

Martina Hingis happy playing exhibitions

NEW YORK -- Martina Hingis was sitting above Arthur Ashe court, her eyes occasionally drifting up to a suite television to watch Venus Williams and Francesca Schiavone in a women's quarterfinal match.

Here they were, two women from her era a lifetime ago, with forehands heavy enough to have survived the Jurassic age of women's tennis while Hingis and her cagey game struggled to evolve. The camera showed a closeup of Williams as she walked to the baseline in a sparkly pink spandex creation.

Hingis smiled. "The dress."

The former Swiss Miss is at the U.S. Open this year, playing doubles with her old partner Anna Kournikova in an exhibition match against Mats Wilander and Pat Cash to start the Thursday night session at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Now a few weeks shy of 30, Hingis seems happy with a schedule-free existence in Switzerland, where she rides horses and hits tennis balls with students from her mother's tennis academy.

"Being on the tour was so demanding," Hingis said. "It's nice just to lean back and enjoy life, have more private time. Not every second is planned."

During her career she sparred with Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, and Venus and Serena Williams.

She won three of four Grand Slam singles titles in 1997, the year she turned 17. In fact, Hingis won five of the seven Grand Slam finals she played between the '97 and '99 Australian Opens, and speculation at the time was that a crop of teenagers would supplant adults in the women's game. But it never came to pass. Hingis didn't win any of the five Slams she played from then until ligament damage in her left ankle precipitated her first retirement in 2002.

Three years later, she missed the game and came back, starting with World TeamTennis. As she went from tournament to tournament on the WTA Tour the next year, Hingis said seeing old friends from Stanford to Tokyo was a homecoming. "I was missing it that time," Hingis said. After winning two tournaments in two years, the renaissance ended early with a positive test for a banned substance in 2008 and a two-year suspension -- a charge for which Hingis has maintained her innocence.

"I feel you shouldn't have any regrets," Hingis said. "It was great to come back when I did."

Unlike other child prodigies who have an uncomfortable relationship with the sport in retirement, Hingis said she does not want to stay away. Despite the public trials of her positive test and her meltdown at the '99 French Open, where she cried to her mother after losing to Steffi Graf, she likes running into Iva Majoli, Chanda Rubin and other women she played with, and still makes appearances at the Slams.

"It's all my friends who are out here," Hingis said.

She has stayed in touch with Kournikova, and they visit when Hingis goes to Florida. They won two Grand Slam doubles titles together, and Hingis won seven more with other partners. Kournikova and Hingis reunited for Wimbledon this season, and the U.S. Open was a natural.

Hingis does not know what her Act III will be, but for now she is content and, after two decades on the road, that is enough.

"I'm sure in the near future there will be something I put my focus on, but now it's really [that] I want to profit off what I achieved," Hingis said.

ESPN.com

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Roger Federer post U.S. Open semis thoughts

As Roger Federer wakes up in New York Sunday morning he is sure to reflect on another US Open that got away. Normally it’s not like this. As he himself noted earlier in the year, he’s supposed to come through in the clutch.

Yet for the second consecutive year his US Open campaign – and dreams of a sixth title at Flushing Meadows – have ended in heartbreak. Last year the Swiss was within two points of victory in the fourth set of the final against Juan Martin del Potro but he couldn’t close out the match. On Saturday he held two match points late in the fifth set but couldn't finish off Novak Djokovic.

It is the third time this year that Federer has lost a match on hard court after holding match point. He failed to convert three match points against Marcos Baghdatis at Indian Wells and squandered one match point against Tomas Berdych in Miami.

“I lost a couple more with match points this year, so they all pretty much feel the same,” Federer said in his post-match press conference Saturday. “They feel somewhat empty at the end because you have tried everything, and maybe it was luck. Maybe it was he played well. Maybe you didn't pick the right shot; maybe he did.”

Although Federer was the more aggressive of the two players and found success in regular forays to the net, he was ultimately brought undone by 66 unforced errors to Djokovic’s 38. He also struggled on serve, putting just 53 per cent of first serves into play.

The five-time ATP World Tour Champion also paid the price for twice handing back the momentum to Djokovic after winning the first and third sets.

Federer said that he shared the disappointment of many tennis fans that a dream No. 1 vs. No. 2 final with Nadal would not eventuate. “I would have loved to play against him here. I did my hard yards the last six years making it to the finals, and he was unfortunately never there. That's obviously disappointing. And now one point away from this happening, obviously it's a bit of disappointment.”

Federer said that he knew from the outset that this year’s US Open was going to be tough, but said that fitness was not an issue in his loss to Djokovic.

“[I was] not really tired. Just, I guess, tense from the situation and from the crowd. It was electric. It was good tennis at the end, so that was the tougher part. I came into this match perfectly ready, didn't drop any sets, didn't waste any time on the court. I felt good out there… I had a tough draw with Soderling and Novak in my section. I knew I had my hands full with those kind of matches.”

Federer said that he had seen enough tennis at this year’s US Open and would not watch the final. “I've been around tennis for weeks and weeks and weeks right now. Last thing I want to do is watch another tennis match where I'm not a part of. I will spend some time with my kids and take it easy, maybe go shopping. I don't know if shops are open here in New York Sundays, but I'm sure something is open."

atpworldtour.com

I'm not even gonna post the score-line of this tortuous match. Feel free to look those up yourselves.

I'm going back to looking at the pretty pictures of Kim Clijsters with her shiny new trophy, and living in denial.

Also, like Roger skipping tomorrow's men final. I've had enough of tennis for the next little while myself. At least in the watching sense.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Kim Clijsters demolishes Zvonareva to win 3rd U.S. Open title!

Mom Kim Clijsters and daughter Jada enjoying the moment for the second straight year :).
I remember the same pics from last year Jada has grown so much!.


Pics courtesy of tennisforum.com

NEW YORK -- From the time she was a teen, Kim Clijsters loved playing on American hard courts. She liked the way she could move on the surface, liked the way she could see the ball.

Her game is now as good as it gets on this stuff.

Clijsters won a second consecutive U.S. Open championship and third overall Saturday night, easily beating Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-1 in a final that lasted exactly one hour and lacked any drama.

Clijsters is the first woman since Venus Williams in 2000-01 to win the title in Flushing Meadows two years in a row. And Clijsters' U.S. Open winning streak is actually up to 21 matches because she also won the 2005 title. She missed the tournament in 2006 because of injuries, including wrist surgery, and skipped it the next two years while taking time off to get married and have a baby.

Her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Jada, was in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday night, munching on a thick slice of watermelon, then sucking on some candy. Sort of like "Take Your Daughter to Work Day," except how many kids get to watch Mom win a Grand Slam championship?

Last year in New York, when Jada pranced around the court during the post-match ceremony, Clijsters became the first mother since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to take home a major trophy.

On Saturday, in addition to another silver cup, Clijsters was awarded US$2.2 million -- the champion's cheque of $1.7 million, plus another $500,000 for finishing second in the U.S. Open Series standings that take into account hard-court tuneup tournaments.

"I've always felt more comfortable on this surface. Not just this year, but even when I was 14, 15, 16," the 27-year-old Clijsters said in an interview the week before the U.S. Open began. "Everything comes easier."

Sure does, nowadays.

After losing the first four Grand Slam finals of her career, Belgium's Clijsters has won her last three. Perhaps that will give some hope to Russia's Zvonareva, who is now 0-2 in major championship matches, after losing to Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final in July.

Not since 1995 has a U.S. Open women's final lasted three sets, and this one wasn't about to end that trend. Indeed, you have to go back to 1976 to find a women's final in which the loser won only three games.

Put simply, the second-seeded Clijsters was too dominant; the seventh-seeded Zvonareva too shaky.

Over and over, Clijsters would scramble to balls that seemed out of reach and get them back over the net, sometimes doing full splits right there along the baseline. She compiled a 17-6 edge in winners, and made nine fewer unforced errors than Zvonareva, 24-15.

Clijsters broke twice to take the first set, and she did it by letting Zvonareva cause her own problems. Clijsters needed only four winners in that set, because Zvonareva made 13 unforced errors, including dumping a backhand into the net on the last point.

After that mistake, Zvonareva told a ballkid to get out of the way, so she could take a practice swing on her backhand side.

Didn't work.

When Zvonareva failed to get to a backhand and fell behind 40-love in the opening game of the second set, she cracked her racket against the court twice, breaking it, and earning a warning from the chair umpire.

Then things got worse for Zvonareva.

She yelled at herself after two unforced errors in the second game of that set, and proceeded to double-fault to get broken at love and trail 2-0. All things considered, it was nothing compared to the tantrum Zvonareva threw in her fourth-round loss at last year's U.S. Open, when she wasted six match points. She bawled. She pounded her palm on her leg while sitting on the court. She slammed her racket against her leg. She begged the chair umpire to let her have some scissors so she could cut tape off her knees.

Zvonareva seemed to be much better at harnessing her emotions of late, perhaps thanks in part to her habit of placing a towel over her head during changeovers to block out distractions. That worked wonders at Wimbledon this summer, and for nearly two weeks at the U.S. Open.

But Clijsters never gave her a chance to get into this match. It was so lopsided, CBS analyst John McEnroe felt compelled to tell viewers: "This might be the most I've ever wanted Kim Clijsters to lose serve. She's such a great person, but this is difficult to watch right now."

TSN.ca

I said in my last post Kim would perhaps have a bit of revenge against Zvonareva for beating her the last 2 times.

Well revenge she did, and how!. Never lost serve totally dominated, played the best she had all tournament long.

So well in fact that I actually felt a little sorry for Zvonerava.

Not that I'm complaining. Kim played outstanding!.

And I'm so happy that she was finally able to successfully defend her title for the first time ever.

Unlike John McEnroe, I didn't really mind the one-sided women's final (although I did think it would be a lot more competitive then it turned out).

After the nightmarishly close 5-setter on the men's side, which saw Roger Federer out of the tournament courtesy of Novak Djokovic (don't even get me started too depressed to even fully comprehend it yet) .

I've had my fill of drama for the rest of the tennis season!.

Congrats Kim on your 2nd successive U.S. Open Championship! (and 3rd Grand Slam). Here's to a few more titles by the end of the year :).

Friday, September 10, 2010

Kim Clijsters battles past Venus to reach the final



Pics from tennisforum.com


Two semifinals, each delicious and dramatic in its own way, brought a rather moribund women's event to crackling life at the U.S. Open yesterday.

And at the end of it, defending champion Kim Clijsters of Belgium and surprise finalist Vera Zvonareva of Russia were the two left standing for tonight's prime-time finale.

As for Clijsters and Williams, they were 6-6 going in. But Clijsters had won the last four, spanning a period both before and after her 27-month absence from the game between 2007 and 2009.

Last year in New York, they met in a crazy quarterfinal, won 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 by Clijsters.

This two-hour, 23-minute clash was much closer throughout.

Up a set, two double faults from Williams in her first two service points in the second-set tiebreaker did her in, and forced a decider

Clijsters was up a break in the third set, and gave it back with a double fault of her own, and an ill-advised swinging forehand volley that was out by several feet.

Then, at 4-4, she started to roll -just at the right time. "I guess at the end she may have made a few less errors. The last two games were just a little -you know, just went her way," Williams said.

At 30, and with her injured sister Serena sitting in the stands instead of playing, this might have been Williams's last, best chance for a major title.

"You know, I feel like the last few times I've played (Clijsters) I haven't been very healthy. So, you know, knowing that I can still obviously almost win, you know, I'm just looking forward to the last time where I can be a lot closer to 100 per cent and play even better," she said. "I'm not sure what my thoughts are. I mean, I tried really, really hard here. I tried my best to play into a rhythm and to continue to be positive. You know, it wasn't easy here to play my normal game because the wind is so bizarre."

As for the head-to-head between Clijsters and Zvonareva, the Belgian leads it 5-2.

But all five wins came before her sabbatical.

Since Clijsters's return, Zvonareva has beaten her twice, most recently at the Rogers Cup last month.

"She's a player who doesn't give you much. She's always there, hangs in there. It's not that she has a game that's very unpredictable, but what she does, she does extremely well," Clijsters said. "So it's going to be a lot different match than it was today."



Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Clijsters+faces+Zvonareva+women+final/3509271/story.html#ixzz0zFEdu8Uc

Well this was pretty much as I predicted. Both players were very streaky, and it came down to who would play more solid and hold their nerve towards the end.

Just like last year Kim was the better of the two.

I do admit that at least this match was much more closely contended then last year's see-saw 3 setter.

Kim played much cleaner in the first couple of sets then she has all tournament long, so that was good to see.

But once again she let the lead slip several times. That's something she will not be able to afford against Zvonareva in tonight's final.

Especially given the fact that she has been beaten the last 2 times they've played.

I also gotta say I was happy to see Wozniacki lose, I didn't really wanna see a re-match of last year's final.

Zvonareva will be much more interesting, and certainly a much bigger challenge for Kim. Perhaps even a chance for a bit of revenge.

Looking forward to it.

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Martina Hingis return to doubles rumors continue

(Reuters) - Former world number one Martina Hingis said on Tuesday she may make a second return to the women's tour, this time on the doubles circuit.

The 29-year-old Swiss, who won Wimbledon at the age of 16 and picked up four other grand slam singles titles, quit the sport for a second time in 2007 but said she could be tempted into returning if she can find a partner.

"I've been asked here and there, with Lindsay (Davenport)," Hingis told a select group of reporters at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. "But she wanted to come back too soon and I wasn't ready for that. Then she won (the title) in Stanford."

Hingis said playing recently at the Team Tennis competition in the United States gave her the taste for the game again but she would only return if her heart was completely in it.

"I don't know, I couldn't say right now, it's always maybes," said Hingis, "I need to find a partner first and commit to really wanting to do it. I really enjoyed playing Team Tennis, playing singles and doubles, and the doubles felt really good, so ..."

Hingis quit the sport for the first time in 2003 at the age of 22, suffering from ankle injuries. She returned in late 2006 and finished the following year ranked seventh.

But she quit for a second time in 2007 under a cloud after she tested positive for cocaine at that year's Wimbledon.

Hingis served a two-year ban but maintained her innocence and was welcomed back to Wimbledon this year when she played with Russian Anna Kournikova in the invitational doubles event.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

Reuters.com

I hope we get some concrete answers from her on that matter soon, would be great seeing her play doubles at the Grand Slams.

Despite what she thinks, she's not too old to have some success there.

But she's right it's all about choosing the right partner, I'll be very curious to see who she does choose to play with once she decides.

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Roger Federer squashes Soderling moves on to semis at U.S. Open!

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Roger Federer won a measure of revenge as he beat fifth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling 6-4 6-4 7-5 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open for the seventh successive time.

Federer, showing the all-round brilliance that has won him a record 16 grand slam titles, refused to let gusty winds at Arthur Ashe center court slow down his charge as he routed Soderling, who had eliminated him in the quarter-finals at this year's French Open.

The 29-year-old Swiss, whose string of five consecutive U.S. Open titles was snapped last year in the final, commanded his serve with precision through the adverse conditions to quash Soderling in just under two hours.

Next up for the second-seeded Federer will be third seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who beat France's Gael Monfils to advance. Federer beat Djokovic in the Flushing Meadows final in 2007 and in the semi-finals the last two years.

(Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Frank Pingue)

Reuters Canada

Revenge, how sweet it is!. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning :), and yes I realize how ridiculous it sounds (to feel that way about a tennis match).

But I can't help it. I will even admit to jumping up and down when Roger hit an ace at triple match point (his 18th dude was on fire tonight!).

Roger has been playing so well all tournament, but tonight he stepped up to the level of excellence, and pure brilliance that has made him the owner of 16 grand slams. It's the Roger of old as many would say.

I would go as far as saying it's both. It's Roger of the old, and of the new.

After all we have seen improvement in his game (being more aggressive and attacking at the net instead of bashing the ball from the baseline).

The style of play that has got him to these quarters. Not in tonight's match, but throughout the past week and a half.

In the past the wind was a major factor for Roger, and could irritate him enough to lose a match.

That was not the case tonight he came prepared and turned on that Swiss precision. What he was able to do in the horrendously windy conditions was mind boggling at times.

I think he even surprised Robin by how well he played. Converting all the break chances that were given to him, breaking right back when broken on his own serve. Simply Roger at his best.

Djokovic is gonna be another test, but if Roger plays like tonight he won't be an issue.

I know I should take it one match at a time, but just the prospect of a first ever U.S. Open Fedal (Roger vs. Rafael Nadal) final is just too hard to resist thinking about.

When I started this post I wanted to be all humble, and neutral as Roger himself, but the magnitude of this win threw that right out the window.

So screw it, congrats Roger on an awesome win!, and a summer of successful revenge (beating Berdych, Baghdatis, Djoko in Canada and Soderling).

Order has finally been almost fully restored to the tennis world, long may it continue!.

*thinking to self* Why the hell didn't I tape this match!.


Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Kim Clijsters scrapes past Stosur to reach the semis

Defending champion Kim Clijsters came through a desperately scrappy US Open quarter-final to set up a tantalising last-four clash with Venus Williams.

Williams, the third seed, battled past Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in a late-running daytime match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

And Clijsters then opened the night session with a 6-4 5-7 6-3 victory over Australian fifth seed Sam Stosur.

Both Williams and Clijsters are chasing their third titles at Flushing Meadows.

Clijsters went into her match on an 18-match unbeaten run in New York that included title wins either side of her retirement in 2005 and 2009.

The 27-year-old Belgian also had a 3-0 record over the much-improved Stosur, who had lost to Schiavone in the French Open final earlier this year.

It was the Australian who made the better start but after winning the first set, unforced errors and fragile serving began to plague both players.

Stosur needed two chances before serving out the second set and Clijsters was in trouble in the decider as she was broken three times in a row, but Stosur could not capitalise and the reigning champion edged through in one hour and 14 minutes.

Clijsters and Williams share a 6-6 career record but the Belgian has won the last four, including a fourth-round win at Flushing Meadows 12 months ago.

bbc sport

Scrappy just about sums it up. Boy, when I said Kim would have a tough one if she didn't serve well I didn't think it would be as difficult, or as up and down for that matter.

Six breaks of serve for each?. Ouch.

Kim herself was joking good naturally in the post-match interview in regards to her serve saying that at least she got an ace to finish off the match.

A pretty match it wasn't, but thankfully she got through it.

Now both women have an extra day of rest (not that either of them really need it). I'm not gonna say anything in regards to Kim's next match.

Just that she wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Venus herself despite playing well can still get streaky.

Remembering last year's result 6-0 0-6 6-4 in the third, Friday will be interesting for sure.

Now I'm off to frazzle about tomorrow night's blockbuster Federer vs. Soderling.

Monday, September 06, 2010

Roger Federer moves through to the quarters in straight sets

Roger Federer continued his smooth progress through the US Open draw with a straight-sets win over 13th seed Jurgen Melzer in round four.

The five-time champion was in good form as he eased to a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory in the night session.

Federer had some luck in the second set tie-break with two net-cords and had to recover from a break down in the third, but was always in control of the match.

The Swiss will play fifth seed Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals.

Soderling had to recover from losing the first set before finally seeing off Spain's 21st seed Albert Montanes 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-3 on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

bbc sport

I haven't been talking about Federer much thus far because he's been virtually cruising through his matches.

Tonight was his first real test however Melzer was a tough opponent. Good preparation for Soderling. Already biting my nails in anticipation of that one!.

Hoping Fed gets some sweet revenge.

It's only gonna get tougher from here on in, but Fed is looking more then up to the challenge.

Rooting for Kimmy against Sam Stosur tomorrow, Kim's gonna have her work cut out for her.

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Kim Clijsters dominates Ivanovic to move to the U.S. Open quarters

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY - Defending champion Kim Clijsters needed just 59 minutes to post a straight set victory over former World No. 1 Ana Ivanovic in fourth round action at the 2010 U.S. Open.

Clijsters, the second seed, recorded a 6-2, 6-1 victory to advance into her fourth straight quarterfinal here, albeit in sporadic years starting in 2003. The Belgian took advantage of Ivanovic's poor second serve, winning 76 percent of the points on her opponents lesser serve.

The two-time U.S. Open champ won seven straight games to move to 4-0 in the second set before cruising to the finish line. She won 70 of the 115 points played in the match.

Next up for Clijsters will be either fifth-seeded Samantha Stosur or 12th- seeded Russian Elena Dementieva, who face off later Sunday. Clijsters figures to have a good chance to advance to the semis, as she has a 3-0 lifetime record against Stosur while winning 11 of 14 matches in her career against Dementieva.

torontosun

This was no big surprise.

Dementieva or Stosur is gonna be a toughie for Kim especially if her serve continues to be so streaky.

But again if the serve is good I think she will go through.

Saturday, September 04, 2010

Kim Clijsters in 4th round of U.S. Open

Defending champion Kim Clijsters overcame a slow start to breeze into the fourth round of the U.S. Open on Friday.

Clijsters dropped the first three games of her match with Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic but went on to win 6-3, 6-0 at Flushing Meadows, N.Y.

The second seed from Belgium will now face former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, who was a 7-5, 6-0 winner over Virginie Razzano of France.

Clijsters won the Open last year in her first Slam since returning from a break of two years, during which time she gave birth to a daughter. She hasn't been able to match that initial splash this year, and suffered a hip injury at the Rogers Cup in Montreal in late August.

"A match like this today probably gives me more satisfaction, because I beat a good player without even playing my best tennis," Clijsters said.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2010/09/03/sp-usopen-five.html#ixzz0yWXFGX00

The quote pretty much says it all. Well done Kim!.

Although I hope we do see some of your best tennis towards the end.

Ivanovic is playing well so it should be a competitive match.

I just hope Kim's serve doesn't have anymore hiccups.

Friday, September 03, 2010

"Dancing with the Stars" season 11 cast announced


The cast of Dancing with the Stars‘ eleventh season has been announced!

Brandy, Dirty Dancing’s Jennifer Grey, Margaret Cho, The HillsAudrina Patridge, Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson and Bristol Palin will be competing for the ladies.

Gentlemen competing are Michael Bolton, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, David Hasselhoff, retired NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, Cory in the House actor Kyle Massey and Rick Fox.



Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/tags/dancing-with-the-stars/#ixzz0yLKKzTiL

The professional pairing is as follows:

Michael Bolton & Chelsie Hightower

Brandy & Maksim Chmerkovskiy

Margaret Cho & Louis Van Amstel

Rick Fox & Cheryl Burke

Jennifer Grey & Derek Hough

David Hasselhoff & Kym Johnson

Florence Henderson & Corky Ballas

Kyle Massey & Lacey Schwimmer

Kurt Warner & Anna Trebunskaya

Bristol Palin & Mark Ballas

Audrina Patridge & Tony Dovolani

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino & Karina Smirnoff



Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/tags/dancing-with-the-stars/#ixzz0yLLdpRDd

Based on this I can already tell I'm going to really enjoy this season.

Very interesting pairings, I totally called it on Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough.

Those two should work really well together.

Mark Ballas
and Bristol Palin is also an interesting one.

Rick Fox
and Cheryl Burke (all I can think to say is hope she wears some six inch heals!).

Brandy and Maksim if I'm not mistaken Brandy can be quite the control freak herself I see a lot of head-butting with these two.

David Hasselhoff and Kym another pair that I think will work well together.

Doing this might be good for his career too.

I'm not sure what to think about Michael Bolton with Chelsie kind of weird, but you never know.

Lacey Schwimmer and the youngster Kyle Massey is the most intriguing.

You never know with Lacey's sometimes unorthodox style it could work quite well.

As for Florance Henderson I don't hold out much hope of her making it too far, but she's bound to be 100 times better then Cloris Leachman.

Last but not least Margaret Cho and Louis Van Amstel another perfect match. After all the guy did an awesome job with Kelly Osbourne.

Thursday, September 02, 2010

Kim Clijsters easily moves to 3rd round at U.S. Open

(Reuters) - Kim Clijsters took an easy step on the path to defending her U.S. Open crown by dismissing Australian teenager Sally Peers 6-2 6-1 on Wednesday on center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Second-seeded Clijsters, 27, crushed 22 winners against just eight for the overmatched Peers as she raced through a 56-minute match against a 19-year-old qualifier ranked 201 and playing her first grand slam tournament.

The victory extended the Belgian's U.S. Open match-winning streak to 16. She won the 2005 title but missed making a defense due to injury, and then took two years off after that to start a family.

Clijsters said it took a little while to get comfortable against an unfamiliar rival, whose only previous tour-level competition came in Hobart in 2009.

"I felt as the match got going, I started playing a little better. But I still have a little way to go to play my best tennis," Clijsters told the crowd.

The Belgian said she wanted to work on moving forward and getting on the attack.

"It takes time," she said. "I'm just trying every match to grow so I'm ready when the opponents get tougher."

Clijsters, who has made it to the third round of the last 16 grand slams she has played in, will face 27th seed Czech Petra Kvitova in her next match.

(Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Frank Pingue)

Reuters.com

Nice little warm-up for Kim, her serve was a bit off again today, but I think that was mostly due to the wind.

Kvitova will be the first real test. Although if memory serves they did play in Cincinnati just before the U.S. Open and Kim won.

If she serves well she should have no problem dispatching her opponent in quick fashion.

If not she may have to tough it out a bit. Kvitova can be very tricky with her flat ground strokes.