2020 US Open: Ekaterina Alexandrova ends Kim Clijsters' Flushing Meadows comeback

Twenty-first seed Ekaterina Alexandrova ended Kim Clijsters’ much-awaited 2020 US Open return in the first round on Tuesday evening. The Russian came from a set down to beat the three-time former US Open champion 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 in an hour and 46 minutes.

The Belgian, who had had to miss the Western & Southern Open last week in order to give herself more time to recover from an adductor injury, started the match on a promising note. Going up by an early break in the opening set that eventually helped her take the lead in the match, Clijsters never looked out of momentum, even when her opponent asserted herself on the court, second set onwards.

2020 US Open: Alexandrova goes toe-to-toe with Clijsters

The second and third sets swung like pendulum.

Alexandrova started the second set by going up a break early on but Clijsters pegged her back. In the 10th game, the former world no. 1 saved two set points on her service game, in the 10th game of the set before creating a break point for herself in the 11th game for a chance to see out the match. As it turned out, not only did Alexandrova save the break point she faced, but in the 12th game, she pocketed the set on her fifth set point.

Clijsters broke Alexandrova to start the third set but the Russian won the next consecutive six games to thwart her older and much-experienced opponent from getting the first win in her second comeback.

In her on-court interview, the youngster spoke admiringly about the four-time Major champion. “It was amazing. She's a legend, and the fact that I beat her means so much for me. It's great experience and I'm just happy,” Alexandrova said. “She played extremely well, and I just told myself to play every point. It didn't matter if I was losing or winning: just stay focused on each point.”

Alexandrova will play the US’ Cathy McNally in the second round of the 2020 US Open. McNally defeated Slovakian Viktoria Kuzmova 6-4, 6-1 in their first-round match.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner/USTA

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