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Andre Agassi of the United States and Roger Federer of Switzerland meet at the net following the men’s final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sept. 11.

Federer, Clijsters triumph at 125th U.S. Open

Ryan Olaveson OLA05001@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

In its 125th year of competition, the U.S. Open crowned Americans with victories in both the men’s and women’s singles tournaments.

Roger Federer dominated the men’s field en route to winning his second straight U.S. Open. On the women’s side, Kim Clijsters defeated Mary Pierce in two sets to win her first ever Grand Slam.

Federer ranked No. 1 won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, and added number six to his resume on Sunday, taking home a $1.1 million purse after defeating 35-year-old Andre Agassi ranked No. 7. Federer beat Agassi in the final 6-3, 2-6, 7-6, 6-1.

“It was the most special one for me to play Andre in the final of the U.S. Open,” said Federer. “He’s one of the last living legends in tennis.”

“[Federer’s] the best I’ve ever played against,” said Agassi, according to www.espn.com. “He plays the game in a very special way that I haven’t seen before.”

Federer had no extreme challenges through the tournament, winning every match in four sets or less.

Having been ranked number one for 84 consecutive weeks, in this year alone he’s beaten 71 of 74 opponents, including 23 straight in finals matches. “I amaze myself that I can back it up, tournament after another,” said Federer, according to www.espn.com. “It seems to click for me.”

Things seemed to click for Clijsters this year as well. Until Saturday, the fourth-seeded Clijsters was in a situation like that of Phil Mickelson before he won the Masters; she was considered the best tennis player never to have won a Grand Slam.

Like Mickelson, she had come very close to winning multiple times, but was never able to finish on top. Yet she managed to upset Maria Sharapova, in the semi-final match. Clijsters then defeated 12th seeded Mary Pierce to win her first Grand Slam title. She took home a solid $2.2 million in prize money, the largest winner’s check in women’s sports history, according to www.espn.com.

“I think for everything there is a time and place,” Clijsters said according to www.espn.com. “Maybe it wasn’t my time in the Grand Slams. Those definitely motivate you to work harder.”

Clijsters, who won 56 of 62 matches this year, will work hard to win future Grand Slams until 2007, when she plans to retire.