Clijsters: U.S. Open Win Never the Plan

2009 Grand Slam Winner Speaks Out on Serena Williams Controversy, and on Being a Tennis Champ and Mom

(CBS)  Kim Clijsters, the 2009 U.S. Open Women's champion, said on "The Early Show" Monday -- just hours after her victory -- she still couldn't completely believe she'd won the Grand Slam tournament.

"This was never really the plan," Clijsters said, adding she never thought she'd return to professional tennis.

Slideshow: U.S. Open 2009: Final Weekend Photos

Clijsters came back to competitive tennis this year when she was invited to Wimbledon to play in an exhibition match. She said she just wanted to be in shape to play tennis greats such as Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.

Unseeded Clijsters Wins U.S. Open Title

But when she got a taste of competition, she said, the hunger to play returned.

Clijsters said, "In the beginning, I kind of tried to just push it aside a little bit. because I didn't know if it was a feeling that was going to stay, but it did. And I'm very happy that I got the chance and the opportunity to do it."

Clijsters, of Belgium, defeated Danish No. 9 seed Caroline Wozniacki with a 7-5, 6-3 victory. This is the second U.S. Open title for Clijsters. Her first Open victory at Flushing Meadows was in 2005 -- her last title before injuries pushed her into retirement.

However, while in retirement, Clijsters married American Brian Lynch and gave birth to a baby girl, Jada. The 26-year-old player is the first mother to win a tennis major since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon in 1980.

Clijsters said the moment she shared with her now 18-month-old daughter was "very special." Clijsters said she's been getting adjusted to being on tour again -- and now as a mother. She said she changed Jada's nap schedule so she could attend the match.

"My husband was there, as well," she said. " ... They weren't there when I won it the first time, so it was nice to share it with them."

The road to her win at the Open victory wasn't without its controversies, however.

During the semifinals, last year's champion, Serena Williams, yelled what were said to be profane remarks at one of the line judges after a foot fault call during a pivotal point in a match against Clijsters.

U.S. Open Fines Williams $10K for Tirade

But Clijsters kept out of it. She said on "The Early Show" she didn't know what was happening on the other side of the net.

"I actually didn't hear much, just because I was just so focused on just trying to finish that match," she said. "And I had a really good feeling out there. I was seeing the ball really well and playing really good tennis, so I didn't want to distract me, so I stayed against the back of the court and didn't hear much until the day afterwards."

Williams lost the match after a point penalty for her behavior. Williams crossed the net and explained to Clijsters what had happened. Clijsters said Williams wished her good luck on the rest of the tournament.

"It was unfortunate that it had to end that way," Clijsters said.

[sam-kiley]

bonjour kim ..jeff
je suis contente pour la maman et la championne congratulations kim ..votre petite fille est adorable au revoir

courage monsieur smith..prompt guérison..et revenez vite au early show

[bubbadubba]

So the little Belgian girl beat the huge manly muscular 6 foot five inch 250 pound NFL Linebacker amazon Serena Williams?
If I was Sir Rena, I would retire.
If Classy Joe Wilson of SC had been there he could have yelled " You lie, you lie, you lie!" when Serena protested.
LOL

[cmanogin]

go te hell... hitler needs you

[Questionews]

I giver her a tennis rating of 9.2
And a hottie rating of 4.8.

Reverse those stats for Anna Kournikova

[rmm26a]

She kinda looks like that girl from Full House in that picture

[hugomutt1576]

The $10,000 fine on Serena is fleabite for her kind of personal wealth.

[RCC_Soldaten]

They're not done with her yet.

[kphx]

If the lineswoman had been either a white or black person, Serena would have reacted differently. When she saw that it was a person of chinese origin, she wanted to show her "200% in anything she does" and wanted to show her full thug spirit. She showed the true beast in her.

[legacyabq]

oh shut up! Whats the matter with you? Race has nothing to with it.

IT WAS MATCH POINT

[talk_down_2_you]

Was the women's final without Serena even televised, I couldn't find it anywhere. Thanks CBS.

[filmguy107]

It was on ESPN2.

[RCC_Soldaten]

ESPN8 - The Ocho!

[credibility2]

Better she than Ms. Serena!

[inisheer]

I'm afraid she's a little late to "play tennis greats like Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf" since they boty retired years ago. Little misquote here.

[fishguru00]

maybe in the seniors tour or something like that...just maybe.

[sharponetoo]

The article states she played an EXHIBITION match with Andre and Steffi at Wimbledon. The article is correct.

[legacyabq]

yeah, people never read