US OPEN
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Date: 31 August - 13 September
BBC coverage: Live text commentaries on the website from 1600 BST each day, regular updates on 5 live, full commentary on 5 live sports extra in week two, both finals on 5 live

Kim Clijsters claimed her biggest win since coming out of retirement as she defeated third seed Venus Williams 6-0 0-6 6-4 in the US Open fourth round.

The former world number one, in her first Grand Slam for two years, breezed through the opening set with a flurry of powerful winners.

Williams regrouped and came blazing back, but was undone as the Belgian clung to a solitary break in the third.

Serena Williams advanced with a 6-2 6-0 demolition of Daniela Hantuchova.

Clijsters and Venus Williams last met in the 2005 US Open quarter-finals when the American was defeated in three sets.

But, after so long out of the game, most thought a repeat would be beyond Clijsters this time.

Those doubts were quickly revised after Clijsters' nimble footwork and pounding groundstrokes immediately had Williams floundering.

Three ruthless breaks followed as Williams saw the first set whisked away from her in just 27 minutes.

It was unbelievable, I don't know what to say - it was such a weird match Kim Clijsters

But after the turnaround, mistakes appeared in Clijsters' previously faultless game and Williams asserted herself on the match.

Her serve, which Clijsters had read so well early on, found another gear as the two-time champion produced some searing shots of her own to level at one set all.

But Clijsters stubbornly refused to rein in her own attacking instincts and drew a double fault and crucial dropped service game from Williams early in the decider.

Afforded two break points and a route back into the match as Clijsters attempted to serve out at 5-4, Williams found the net on both to slide to defeat.

"It was unbelievable," said Clijsters. "I don't know what to say. It was such a weird match, especially those first two sets. But after I lost the second at 6-0, I said, let's start over and start a new match."

She added: "I've been working really hard the last seven, eight months and I'm enjoying it.

606: DEBATE For Clijsters to even be here is an achievement itself eirebilly

"It's something that's really important for myself, as long as I can focus on tennis and have fun on the outside as well."

The Belgian will next face China's Li Na, who overcame 26th seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-2 6-3.

Defending champion Serena, who later teamed up with sister Venus in the doubles, completed the first half of her day's work in just over an hour.

Her Slovak opponent, seeded 22, offered some initial resistance before being broken in the sixth game.

From that point she could not muster another game and slumped to a heavy defeat.

"I tried to relax," said Williams. "Sometimes I'm such a perfectionist, I put too much stress on myself."

Williams will play Flavia Pennetta in the last eight after the Italian won a dramatic night-session match, saving six match points before beating Vera Zvonareva 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-0.

"I lost concentration because I knew I knew I didn't have the ability for the third set," said Zvonareva, who struggled with heavy taping on her knees.

"I just lost my concentration completely. I couldn't get back into it. Flavia was on fire."

In the girls' singles, Britain's Laura Robson opened her campaign with a 6-0 6-1 win over Tunisia's Ons Jabeur.

The 15-year-old, who missed out on a place in the main draw after a narrow defeat in the final round of qualifying, wrapped up victory in 43 minutes.

Fellow Briton Heather Watson, 17, also came through the first round, although the 11th seed was pushed to a third set in a 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 win over Ksenia Kirillova.

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