Kim Clijsters has advanced to the women’s singles final of the U.S. Open after defending champion Serena Williams received a point penalty for a second code violation on match point.
Former winner Clijsters beat Williams 6-4 7-5, the Press Association reported. Clijsters had been a set and 6-5 up when the line judge foot-faulted Williams on a second serve to give the Belgian match point. Williams moved towards the linesperson launching a verbal tirade and then waving her racquet angrily at her. Williams had been given the first code violation for smashing her racquet at the end of the first set. Their game had been delayed 85 minutes past its scheduled commencement and more than 24 hours past the intended match time due to heavy rain. Caroline Wozniacki beat teen Yanina Wickmayer 6-3 6-3 to move on to Sunday night’s final with Clijsters.
Don’t Miss
Nadal races into U.S. Open semis before rain returns
Del Potro reaches his first U.S. Open semis
Djokovic advances to semi finals in U.S. Open
Williams sisters into U.S. Open doubles final
Former world No. 1 Rafael Nadal quickly wrapped up victory in his U.S. Open quarterfinal against Fernando Gonzalez as the predicted continued rain in New York briefly held off on Saturday. The Spaniard had led 11th seed Gonzalez 7-6 (7-4) 6-6 (3-2) before rain stopped play on Thursday, and took a 2-0 lead after winning the first four points of the day upon resumption of play in cool, overcast conditions to clinch the tiebreaker. Nadal, seeded third after a year of injury problems, then whitewashed his Chilean opponent 6-0 in the third set to set up a semifinal clash with sixth-seeded Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro on Sunday. However, the rain then returned to delay the start of the men’s doubles final.
