Clijsters advances to US Open final...in a bizarre way

Kim Clijsters is back. She's back in the U.S. Open finals and it occurred in a peculiar way.

While serving at 5-6, 15-30, Serena Williams was called for a foot fault. That foot fault made the game score 15-40, and Williams was obviously distraught over the call. It's pretty odd to see that call at that stage of a match. But instead of showing her usual calm demeanor, Williams decided to shout at the line judge. The world's #2 player and tourney's #2 seed said something along these lines:

“If I could, I would take this … ball and shove it down your … throat and kill you.”

 Apparently that judge felt threatened by Williams' statement. That statement was a little brash, to say the least. Normally, this "exhibit" would result in a conduct warning. But Serena had already been issued such a warning after the first set for "abusing her racket". The next step, awarding a point to her opponent. And that's exactly what was done. Clijsters was awarded a point and giving her the game...and the match.

But don't let those events from last night cloud what Clijsters has done. With her win last night, Clijsters has gone from wild card entry to U.S. Open finalist. Along the way, she has defeated four seeds, #14 Marion Bartoli, #3 Venus Williams, #18 Li Na, and #2 Serena. She will have to go up against another seed in #9 Caroline Wozniacki to gain her second U.S. Open title.

And she could be favored to do just that. Beating five seeds would be such an incredible run.

Clijsters has given credit to Lindsey Davenport for helping her prepare for life on the courts as a parent. Clijsters has an 18 month old daughter. I hope Davenport told her of the "terrible twos".

Hey Kim, they are just around the corner.