LOS ANGELES, 12 August 2003 — Kim Clijsters became the first Belgian to claim the world’s top ranking when she beat second seed Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 in the final of the JP Morgan Chase Open on Sunday.
“I always looked up to number ones Steffi Graf and Monica Seles and to be in the position now even though they held the ranking for so much longer is incredible,” the 20-year-old said.
Clijsters, who took over the top spot from the injured Serena Williams, became the first player lead the rankings without winning a grand slam since the WTA Tour introduced the ranking system in 1975.
“When they said it on court, it gave me goosebumps.” she said.
“Being number one reflects on the great season I’ve had so far. No one can take that away from me. It’s something I’ll always have on my resume.” A former number one herself, Davenport was full of admiration for her opponent. “It’s a huge accomplishment. Now everyone is going to start asking her when she’s going to win a grand slam,” Davenport said.
“But she has the goods to do it. She has a lot of game and hasn’t even hit her peak yet.” Clijsters jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set with a pinpoint service game, powerful groundstrokes and by attacking Davenport’s second serve.
She then took the set when she ripped a backhand crosscourt past Davenport and then hit a twisting 84 mph second serve winner. But three-time champion Davenport began to find the range with her big first serve and searing groundstrokes in the second set and took a 2-0 lead in the second.
But Clijsters broke back to 2-3 and then fought off two break points to even the set at 3-3 and appeared to be regaining control of the match.
However the tall American fought off four break points with a series of winners to hold to 4-3, broke again to go out to 5-3 and then leveled the match with a 107-mph service winner. The players then took a 10-minute break between sets because of the heat. When they returned Clijsters raced out to a 3-0 lead. The 27-year-old American recently received a second cortisone injection to treat neuroma, which has inflamed a nerve between the third and fourth toes on her left foot.
Davenport said she began to feel pain in her foot when trailing 1-3 at deuce and after that, she knew the contest was all but over. “I had already dug myself too deep a hole at that point,” she said.
After the match, Clijsters was presented with a large bouquet of flowers shaped into a number one and was given a cake with the inscription “Congratulations No. 1 Kim”.
