US Open Final Time

  
Kim Clijsters is the Queen of the U.S. Open.

Clijsters crushed seventh-seeded Vera Zvonareva, 6-2, 6-1, in last night's final at Arthur Ashe Stadium to take home her second straight Open title. The mauling took just 59 minutes, as the second-seeded Clijsters played solidly while Zvonareva was an inaccurate mess of mistakes.

The Belgian has won the title in her past three appearances. She won the Open in 2005 and then did not play from 2006-2008 as she took off 28 months to have a baby and get away from the sport. She has won her last 21 Open matches and became the first woman to win the Open in three straight appearances since Chris Evert from 1975-78.

Clijsters' victory made it 15 straight years in which the women's final in Flushing Meadows has been a straight-set affair. The last time the women played three sets for the championship was 1995, when Steffi Graf battled past Monica Seles.

The triumph ended Zvonareva's two-match winning streak against Clijsters. Zvonareva had toppled Clijsters in the Wimbledon quarters this summer, a loss that last night Clijsters ranked among her most crushing, and beaten her on a hardcourt at the recent tournament in Montreal.

"In a way, I was excited to play her in the final here just to try and get that revenge, but I also learned lot of things," Clijsters said. "My coach, by watching me lose against her, we picked up a few little things that kind of helped me out [last night] as well, which was kind of mixing up my game a little more."

Clijsters, whose three U.S. Open crowns are her only Grand Slam titles, talked last night about this year was the first time she had the opportunity to defend her title. She succeeded.

"She didn't really give me chances to get into the match," Zvonareva said. "I was ready to play. I knew what I had to do. I just couldn't produce anything."

The sixth game of the second set was evidence. Clijsters drilled a crosscourt forehand passing shot for a winner and a forehand passing shot down the line for another. Zvonareva also double-faulted twice, handing Clijsters a break.

Overall, Zvonareva committed 24 unforced errors and double-faulted four times.

With no Serena Williams in the tournament, Clijsters did not have to beat the world's top player. But did beat No. 3 Venus Williams in the semifinals, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, and she won a quarterfinal battle with No. 5 Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

In the first set last night, Clijsters broke Zvonareva to go up 4-2 and broke again two games later to capture the set.

The fans exhorted Zvonareva, clearly wanting to see a more competitive final. But facing a break point at 3-1 in the second, Clijsters delivered a 97-mph ace and held to go up 4-1. The championship clincher came on a forehand winner.

For Clijsters, it was part repeat and part revenge.