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Clijsters is new world No. 1

NUMERO UNO: Belgian Kim Clijsters poses next to a flower arrangement to celebrate her elevation to world No. 1 after clinching the JP Morgan Chase Open title at Carson, California on Sunday. — Reuters

CARSON (California) AUG. 11. Her mind was racing. Her cell phone was ringing. And in 35-Celsius heat, Kim Clijsters had goosebumps.

Clijsters became the new No. 1 in women's tennis on Sunday, outlasting Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 to win the JP Morgan Chase Open for her tour-high sixth title of the year.

``This is a day I'll never forget,'' she said, smiling. While talking about being No. 1, Clijsters still hadn't come to grips with her status. ``Oh, it sounds funny saying that,'' she said, giggling.

Clijsters takes over the top spot from the injured Serena Williams, who will trail by less than 45 points when the WTA Tour rankings come out on Monday.

``It's a feeling I cannot really describe,'' Clijsters said. ``On the court, I had all these butterflies in my stomach and goosebumps. There were so many things going through my mind.''

Clijsters, who moves up from second spot, is the first Belgian and the 12th woman to be No. 1 since the rankings began in 1975.

``She's got a lot of game,'' Davenport said. ``I think she can get better. She hits the ball hard and she plays offence and defence extremely well.''

Clijsters is also the only player to be No. 1 without winning a Grand Slam title, although she will be among the favourites to win the U.S. Open, which begins on Aug. 25.

``It's something that always seems so far away, and it is always something that you work for,'' Clijsters said, referring to being No. 1. ``It makes you more motivated and makes you train harder.''

The ranking is another achievement in a year that so far has been outstanding for the 20-year-old Clijsters. She reached the semifinals in all 14 events she's played in 2003; she and countrywoman Justine Henin-Hardenne were tied with five titles. Clijsters lost to Henin-Hardenne in the French Open final.

Among the callers to Clijsters' cell phone was her father Lei, a former football player, and boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt, the ATP Tour's former No. 1. Her parents were home in Belgium, where a band scheduled a concert in Clijsters' hometown, but few showed up.

``They were all watching the match,'' she said. ``They've always supported me. It's great to be able to give something back to them.''

Clijsters said she planned a quiet celebration dinner with her coach and physical trainer. She cut and served pieces of a large cake that read ``No. 1 Congratulations Kim,'' then wrinkled her nose upon taking a sip of champagne from a bottle presented by tournament organisers.

Later, Clijsters carried pieces of cake to fans waiting for autographs. Williams, champion at five of the past six Majors, had knee surgery on Aug. 1 and is expected to be out for up to two months. She has been No. 1 for 57 consecutive weeks since July 8, 2002.

Clijsters rolled to a 5-0 lead in the first set against Davenport, a former No. 1 and three-time Major champion. Davenport blew a 3-0 lead in the second, letting Clijsters get to 3-3.

Davenport fought off four break points and held at 4-3 when Clijsters returned her second serve into the net. She broke Clijsters in the next game and won the set when the Belgian's backhand sailed long.

The players then were allowed a 10-minute heat break because of temperatures in the 90s, and Clijsters was by far the fresher player in the third set, winning it in just 17 minutes.

``I came back as a new player after that break,'' she said. ``In the third, I felt I could move her around, and at the end she hurt her foot. That made me be a little more aggressive.''

Davenport won just nine points and committed 11 unforced errors in the decisive set. Clijsters had 11 winners and four errors.

``The first and third sets, I basically gave them away in the first three games,'' said Davenport, a finalist seven of the last eight years and a three-time winner in Los Angeles.

``I get in these three-set matches and it seems I go away in the first three few games in the third. I never got on top of the points in that set.''

Davenport's left foot started bothering her as she fell behind 1-3. She started hobbling, and Clijsters broke her at love then closed out the victory when Davenport's backhand landed wide.

``I had already dug myself into a deep hole,'' said Davenport, who will take this week off and plans to play one last hard-court tune-up in New Haven, Connecticut, before the Open.

When it ended, Clijsters raised both arms, walked to the net and kissed Davenport on the cheek. Fans chanted, ``Number one! Number one!'' and Clijsters tossed a white sweatband into the stands.

``I don't know how I feel,'' Clijsters told the crowd. ``I'm a bit confused.''

It was her second victory in two weeks against Davenport. She won 6-3, 6-3 last week in the semifinals of the Acura Classic at Carlsbad, California, and leads their rivalry 7-6.

Clijsters is 4-0 on hard courts against Davenport this year.

AP

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