Clijsters Ousts Williams at US Open

(NewsCore) - After dropping the first set, defending U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters came back strongly to advance to her third straight U.S. Open final 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4, knocking out the last American left in singles play.

Third seed Venus Williams, opting against her flashy ’fireworks’ dress, forced a tiebreak in the second set, looking to possibly finish off Clijsters in two sets. But two double faults and two unforced errors led Clijsters to easily take the tiebreak 7-2 on a windy Arthur Ashe court.

Then, a double fault at 4-4 in the third set gave Clijsters a break point opportunity which she converted, and then served out the match at 6-4.

Clijsters faces No. 8 seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia, who took out top seed Caroline Wozniacki, in the finals Saturday.

The second-seeded Belgian is looking to be the first woman to win the U.S. Open two years in a row since Venus Williams, who claimed the title in 2000 and again in 2001.