Tennis – US Open: Some of the joy of victory was sapped by a bizarre ending, but Kim Clijsters had nothing to apologise for after beating Serena Williams Saturday and putting herself within one win of an amazing feat.
Clijsters was on the verge of sealing a 6-4 7-5 semi-finals win over the defending champion when Williams eliminated herself by verbally abusing a lineswoman for calling a foot fault on her and receiving a point penalty on match point.
The finish confused Clijsters at first.
But the end result was another incredible win on a comeback trail that now leaves only 19-year-old Caroline Wozniack of Denmark blocking her from winning a grand slam title in her third tournament after a two-year break to start a family.
The 26-year-old Belgian, the 2005 Open winner, said the chaotic finish robbed some of the joy of victory.
"When you play that last point, whether it is a winner or by mistake from your opponent, it's a great feeling to have," Clijsters told reporters. "So, yeah, the normal feelings of winning a match weren't quite there.
"You want to finish that last point, kind of, especially when you hit like I was," added Clijsters, who arrived in New York with her husband and 18-month-old daughter Jada for her first grand slam since the 2007 Australian Open.
"Seeing the ball really well, I was hitting well, and I was really focused. And to win it, that's a great feeling to have. It's a little bit unfortunate that I didn't have that, but it's not going to take anything away from tomorrow's match or how special that would be for me, and for both of us."
When Clijsters returned to competition last month she immediately showed she was playing at a high level with wins over former Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli and former US Open winner and French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Still, the Belgian said she needed tests against the best.
At Flushing Meadows, she passed her exams with flying colors with victories over both Serena and older sister Venus Williams, who own 18 grand slam titles between them.
Asked if it surprised her to reach the final of her first grand slam back, Clijsters said, "Yes, very much so.
"I never really expected to be beating Venus and beating Serena. You try and you try to bring your best tennis, but no, you don't expect things to be going this well this soon.
"That's why I, knock wood, just try to really stay focused and not lose my rhythm ... Just trying to keep that going until the whole tournament is finished."
Serena Williams, even in the heat of defeat, had an encouraging word for Clijsters and wished her well in her heartwarming comeback campaign.
"She just said, 'Good luck. I hope you win,'" Clijsters said about her exchange with Williams, who walked over to her side of the court after the unusual finish to shake hands.