Venus Falls to Kim Clijsters at US Open

In a bizarre match of U.S. Open women's tennis Sunday, Kim Clijsters pulled off a major upset of No. 3 Venus Williams, winning 6-0, 0-6, 6-4. To put it in perspective of how strange this match was, the third set took longer than the first two put together.

Clijsters came out on fire in the first set, shutting out Venus in 28 minutes. Venus looked restricted by her heavily bandaged left knee and could not move well enough to hold even just one service game.

After getting rolled in the first set, things warmed up for Venus in the second. She started moving better and looked much more comfortable putting pressure on the knee. She relied on her raw power to send a shutout right back at Clijsters.

It also helped that Clijsters coughed up 10 unforced errors in the second set to Venus' two.

U.S. Open: Women's Scoreboard | Men's Scoreboard | Photos

The third set was much more equal. Clijsters broke Venus' serve early and was able to hold through the rest of the match for the win. Clijsters -- up 5-4 and serving for the win -- fell behind and gave up two break opportunities to Williams before winning four consecutive points to end the match.

Venus' work at the Open is not over yet. She is still competing with her sister Serena in the doubles competition and the time off from singles should actually help her as she will have some much needed time to rest her knee.

Clijsters has made an impressive comeback to tennis after taking off more than two years to start a family. This is the first Grand Slam event she has played in since finishing as a semifinalist at the 2007 Australian Open. This also marks the first time she has played in the U.S. Open since she won it in 2005.

She is scheduled to play No. 18 seeded Na Li of China in the quarterfinals.

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U.S. Open 2009

Kim Clijsters of Belgium hits a backhand against Venus Williams of the United States during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Jason DeCrow/NewsdayMCT)

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U.S. Open Photos

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Flavia Pennetta of Italy reacts after a point against Vera Zvonareva of Russia during day seven of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Flavia Pennetta

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Jason Bateman looks on during day seven of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jason Bateman

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: Flavia Pennetta of Italy reacts after a point against Vera Zvonareva of Russia during day seven of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 6, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Flavia Pennetta

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Flavia Pennetta of Italy returns the ball against Vera Zvonareva of Russia during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Kathy Kmonicek/NewsdayMCT)

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Vera Zvonareva of Russia returns the ball to Flavia Pennetta of Italy during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Kathy Kmonicek/NewsdayMCT)

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Venus Williams, right, listens to her sister Serena during their doubles match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. The Williams sisters beat Sorana Cirstea of Romania and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns a shot in front of her partner, Sorana Cirstea, of Romania, during a doubles match against Venus and Serena Williams at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. The Williams sisters won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Gael Monfils of France tosses the ball while serving to Jose Acasuso of Argentina during their match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Jose Acasuso of Argentina hits a forehand against France's Gael Monfils during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Jason DeCrow/NewsdayMCT)

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Gael Monfils of France hits a forehand against Jose Acasuso of Argentina during the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Sunday, September 6, 2009 in Flushing Meadows, New York. (Jason DeCrow/NewsdayMCT)

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