Clijsters to face Zvonareva in final after comeback against Williams

(AFP/ GETTY IMAGES)

Kim Clijsters will face Russia's Vera Zvonareva in today's US Open final after the Belgian former World No 1 beat Venus Williams last night at Flushing Meadows. After Zvonareva had reached her second successive Grand Slam final with a comprehensive victory over top seed Caroline Wozniacki, Clijsters won 4-6 7-6 6-4 to set up the possibility of back-to-back triumphs after her win here in 2009.

Zvonareva dominated the first semi-final from the outset to record a 6-4, 6-3 win in one hour and 25 minutes. "It was a tough match, Caroline was here in the finals last year and she's a great player," said Zvonareva. "It was very difficult for both of us with the wind but I think I was patient and aggressive like in the previous matches."

Wozniacki had not dropped a set in reaching the semi-finals and had only lost 17 games in total, but was immediately in trouble, saving two break points in the opening game of the match.

The 20-year-old Dane was unable to repeat the trick in her next service game however and Zvonareva took the opening set in 45 minutes.

Wozniacki was committing way more unforced errors than usual – 31 in total – and although she initially recovered from a break down early in the second set, Zvonareva broke in the next game for a 3-2 lead. The 26-year-old was having more trouble with broken strings than Wozniacki's game and her fourth break of serve sealed victory.