Confidence, consistency fuel Clijsters' rise to top
By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published August 12, 2003
When Kim Clijsters defeated Serena Williams in November to win the 2002 season-ending WTA Championships, her confidence, something many perceived to be a weakness, received a jolt.
"That really motivated me," the 20-year-old Clijsters said last week via conference call. "I sort of wanted the season to keep going. That's been my biggest win, definitely. Mentally, that probably gave me the biggest boost."
Apparently so.
Clijsters' victory over Lindsay Davenport in Sunday's J.P. Morgan Chase Open final allowed her to wrestle the No. 1 ranking away from Williams, who is on the shelf after recent knee surgery.
"I always go for it 100 percent," Clijsters said. "I've had a great season."
The ranking is a tribute to her consistency.
Clijsters is the first female No. 1 without a major championship (she's 0-2 in Grand Slam finals - the 2001 and 2003 French Opens). She owns nine titles in 12 months, however, has reached the semifinals or better in all 14 of her 2003 tournaments and has won six events this season. Williams has played in only seven tournaments this year, which helped Clijsters accumulate more points than her American rival.
Clijsters is the first Belgian No. 1 and the first non-American at the top since Martina Hingis held the spot in 2001. She is the 12th woman to reach No. 1, joining an exclusive crowd that includes idol Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Williams. Clijsters also is No. 1 in doubles.
All that's missing is that elusive first major.
Williams' injury will keep the sport's biggest name from playing in the U.S. Open, which she won last year. Clijsters will earn the No. 1 seed and now has to be considered the favorite.
"This year has been the best year for me in the Grand Slams," Clijsters said. "I'm only 20. I don't see the point of starting to worry about Grand Slams."
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT: Brad Gilbert made a deal he might regret. Gilbert, who coaches American star Andy Roddick, promised to sky-dive with his student if Roddick won the ATP Tour's Montreal event. Roddick claimed the title Sunday, so now it's time for Gilbert to find a parachute.
"He's got to jump out of an airplane with me," Roddick said on the Web site ATPtour.com. "I've been four times, but he's got to go with me. He's scared to look off the second floor balcony downstairs. So it should be fun. He might mess his pants or something. This is going to be good stuff."
Maybe Roddick should cut Gilbert some slack.
The 20-year-old is 24-2 since joining up with Gilbert in June. And during that stretch, Roddick has wins over Andre Agassi and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, two players he never had beaten.
Roddick is a career-best No. 4 in the rankings.
FADING FAST: Jelena Dokic's free fall continues. The 20-year-old Yugoslavian, who sometimes trains at Saddlebrook, dropped from 15th to 17th in the latest rankings. Dokic, once touted as a potential Grand Slam singles challenger, began the year ranked ninth but hasn't won an event and lost early in both of her major appearances. The low point came three weeks ago at the Bank of the West Classic, where she lost to qualifier Maria Vento-Kabchi.
ODDS AND ENDS: Williams had been No. 1 for 57 consecutive weeks since taking the title from older sister Venus on July 8, 2002. ... Agassi is No. 1 in the men's rankings, but the second-ranked Federer and No. 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero are closing fast. In fact, because Agassi isn't playing in this week's ATP event in Ohio (he's resting for the U.S. Open), both players have a chance to grab the top spot.
LAST WORD: "It's about time. No one beats me five times in a row." - a joking Roddick after defeating Federer for the first time last week in his fifth attempt.
