Photograph: John G. Mabanglo/EPAParenthood; the new secret weapon of world-class players. With the recent father Roger Federer making steady, seemingly inevitable, progress towards his anointed place in the final of the US Open men's event, Kim Clijsters added weight to the burgeoning suspicion that fitful sleep and changing nappies might be the best preparation for New York's hard courts.
The unseeded Belgian, who only recently returned to the sport after a two-year break, during which time she got married and gave birth to a daughter, moved smoothly into the semi-finals of the women's event, brushing aside the challenge of Li Na in two sets.
Nothing is ever easy at this exalted level of professional sport although it sometimes looks that way. This was one such occasion as Clijsters dropped just one service game as she won 6-2, 6-4 over a player currently ranked 19 in the world but who was made to look ordinary in a contest that lasted barely more than hour.
Yet if the gulf in class between the two was obvious, Clijsters was too much of a sportswoman to say so afterwards. "I was very nervous over the last two games of the second set but I just focused on my game and made sure I stayed aggressive with my shots," she said, before adding her thanks to the crowd, which has been swept along with her heartwarming story of tennis and motherhood. "I don't know what I would have done without them." Very well, one suspects. Suffice to say, it will not be long before the Belgian, a former world no1, is firmly ensconced inside the world's top-five female players, although the arithmetic that guides such matters mean it will be a while before she gets there.
In the shorter term, her performance in reaching the last four, defeating the no3 seed Venus Williams along the way, means she will be a top-50 player this time next week. Whether she marks her return to the rankings in an even higher spot will depend on the outcome of her semi-final, which in turn will depend on the identity of her opponent. Serena Williams and the Italian Flavia Pennetta, seeded 10th, were due on court late tonight. Neither would be a pushover but, clearly the American would be the tougher opponent, not least because she holds a 6-1 career record against Clijsters. "Let's just wait and see what happens," the Belgian said of her hopes for the rest of the week.
Kim's come back continues. She dominated Li Na to take the first set.
But got a little hesitant in the second (probably due to nerves) and lost her serve allowing her opponent to get back into the match.
This has been the case with all prior matches up to this point.
But she does manage to pull herself together just when she needs to.
Which is a good thing too because she'll need every bit of that, and more to get past Serena. Whom as predicted will face Clijsters next.
That's going to be a real toughie for Kim to win I think.
On the other hand out of all the current women left in the draw Clijsters is the only one with the slightest chance of pulling an upset.
She is one of the best returners in the game. Her defensive skills are not to shabby either.
Even if she doesn't win what an amazing effort to make it all the way to the semi-finals of a grand slam (in only your 3rd tournament back) after being away for 2 years!.
And yes it probably does say something about the current state of the women's game. But you gotta give Clijsters a lot of credit nonetheless.
Congrats Kim. And good luck. All the future tennis moms out there are behind you! :).
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