Clijsters looking strong as she bids for third US Open title
Published:Reigning champion Kim Clijsters insisted her game was still a work in progress despite easing into the third round of the US Open with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Australian Sally Peers.
Clijsters has lost just eight games so far at Flushing Meadows but admitted there was plenty of room for improvement after dropping her serve twice against qualifier Peers.
The 27-year-old Belgian, who won the title 12 months ago in only her 14th match and third tournament since coming out of retirement, also managed to get just 51% of her first serves in and committed 21 unforced errors.
“I just had to find my footing again a little bit,” said Clijsters, who is seeded second this year behind Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki, the player she beat in last year’s final.
“I felt as the match went on I got to read her game a bit better and moved a bit better, but I still have a little further to go before I play my best tennis.”
Clijsters is a strong 3/1 favourite to win her third US Open title but Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki, both 9/2 for the championship, are in good from and continue their challenges in the second round at Flushing Meadows today.
Wozniacki faces Kai Cheng-Chan on the Arthur Ashe court today and three victories in her past four hard court tournaments means Wozniacki is a very strong 1/10 to win in straight sets.
Kim Clijsters is looking ominously good as she progresses into the third round. See the full US Open tennis betting market here.
