There was no doubting the story of the 2009 US Open.

No, it wasn't the fall of Roger Federer in the men's final to Juan Martin Del Potro. Nor was it 17-year-old Melanie Oudin's spectacular run to the quarter-finals. And it wasn't even Serena Williams' semi-final rant. Did she really threaten to kill a lineswoman?

The story for which the tournament will be best remembered is Kim Clijsters' triumph in just her third tournament back on the tour - and the on-court celebrations with daughter Jada which followed.

Having spent more than two years in what turned out to be premature retirement, during which time she gave birth, was it any wonder that the 26-year-old told the crowd in her trophy presentation speech: "I don't have words for this."

Well, Kim, here are some. Incredible. Remarkable. Extraordinary.

The figures speak for themselves. Before arriving in New York, Clijsters had played seven competitive matches in 27 months. Yes, seven.

Yet a lack of match practice didn't matter one iota to the Belgian, who duly took out both Williams sisters - the two title favourites - en route to the final before dismissing Caroline Wozniacki.

If there's been a greater comeback, in any sport, I don't know about it.

Clijsters admitted after her triumph that title glory "wasn't in the plan" when she "started from zero" having decided to return earlier in the year. Her laugh and smile as she sat in the chair moments after clinching victory expressed her amazement perfectly.

"This is something that I, in my wildest dreams, could never imagine happening," she added.

But with the winners flowing from her awesome inside-out forehand throughout the fortnight, happen it did.

Clijsters will be back in action in Luxembourg next month before heading to Australia at the start of next year, where further glory - and a clash with fellow comeback kid Justine Henin - could await.

While Clijsters is guaranteed the spotlight wherever she goes from now on, her defeated final opponent may just be able to remain in the shadows for a little longer.

Rarely can a Grand Slam finalist have received so little attention. The Dane tip-toed her way through a first week dominated by shocks and Dinara Safina's woes, while the second brought Oudin-mania and the Clijsters comeback gathering pace.

But we haven't heard the last of the Dane, of that you can be sure - and there's more than one reason for that.

Certainly in Britain, I suspect Wozniacki's name will crop up every now and again.

The reason? She was playing her first Grand Slam final in New York, just over three years after winning Junior Wimbledon.

Of course, Briton Laura Robson won the girls' title in SW19 last year, while in New York, Heather Watson joined her as a junior Slam winner.

A product of the famous Nick Bollettieri academy which has produced such stars as Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles and Jennifer Capriati, Watson is about to find out that expectations will only increase from now on.

Grand Slam finalists are few and far between, so while it may not be right to expect Robson and Watson to progress to that level, Wozniacki has shown it can be done.

And that's before considering that Andy Murray went from US Open junior champion to senior finalist in a four-year period from 2004 to 2008.

As well as propelling a well-known name back into the spotlight, the 2009 US Open has potentially introduced us to a new star.

Watch this space.

Let us know your views on Clijsters' achievements. And can the young Britons follow in her and Wozniacki's footsteps? Email your feedback to tennisfeedback@sportinglife.com.