Though Americans Lindsay Davenport, Venus Williams and Serena Williams won the U.S. Open six times in the past 20 years, the only other female to claim victory at home was France's Mary Pierce, clinching Roland Garros in 2000.
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The U.S. team is without the Williams sisters Serena and Venus as well as Australian Open semifinalist Sloane Stephens.
The absence of the Williams sisters Serena and Venus proved crucial for the U.S., with Italy's greater experience proving the difference on the clay as they added a second Fed Cup to their previous victory in 2006.
Clijsters, who won the U.S. Open in 2005, secured her place in the final after beating third seed American Venus Williams in the fourth round, 18th seed Li Na of China in the quarterfinals and defending champion Serena Williams in the semifinals.
Unfortunately for her, she is due to face Serena Williams in the fourth round.
Australia's Sam Stosur is the fifth seed, with four-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams seeded sixth.
On the women's side, 30-year-old Serena Williams was stunned by 29-year-old Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano Tuesday.
Serena Williams, who lost in the quarterfinals, will take the number-two rank in the world.
In the women's draw, Serena Williams remains on course for a sixth singles title in Melbourne.
"I can play even better, " said Radwanska, who lost last year's Wimbledon final to Serena Williams.
Serena Williams is already into the second round with a straight sets win over Varvara Lepchenko.
Elsewhere, Serena Williams set up a semifinal showdown with world number one Victoria Azarenka.
Serena Williams continued her march toward the women's final with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Roberta Vinci.
Serena Williams has been a role model for aspiring young women tennis players for over a decade.
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Sharapova, the reigning French Open champion, lost to Serena Williams in straight sets in the Spanish capital.
The only female athletes in Wie's vicinity are tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.
American results on the women's side have been better lately, thanks mostly to No. 1-ranked Serena Williams.
The 22-year-old lost in qualifying but earned a bye into the second round when Serena Williams withdrew injured.
Meanwhile, the International Tennis Federation has named Djokovic and third-ranked woman Serena Williams as its 2012 world champions.
Serena Williams has managed to do OK from her fame, and even a couple trademark registrations to boot.
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Next in Wie's sights will be the top female sports earners, tennis stars Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.
BBC: The hour before school started was always a busy time for me.
She beat Georgia's Anna Tatishvili 7-5 6-3, to advance to a meeting with fifth-seeded American Serena Williams Thursday.
The women's draw has been kind to No.1 Serena Williams , who will begin her campaign against Anna Tatishvili.
The young Venus and Serena Williams would wake up at 6:00 am to hit tennis balls before school.
In the women's draw, Serena Williams beat Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2 7-5.
"It's been the strangest week for me, " said the French star, who replaced the injured Serena Williams this week.
Meanwhile, defending champion Serena Williams cruised into the quarterfinals with a crushing 6-2 6-0 win over Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.
But Serena Williams beat Vera Dushevina 6-7 7-6 7-6 to reach round three.
In the women's section, Serena Williams thrashed Slovakia's 14th seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-0 6-1 to make it 21 consecutive victories.
Serena Williams put an early break behind her to polish off the first set against Schiavone 6-3 in 34 minutes.
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