Three berths secured for WTA year-ender

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NEW YORK (AP) -- Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Serena Williams are the first three qualifiers for the season-ending WTA Tour Championships set for Nov.5-10 in Los Angeles.

Clijsters, ranked No.1, won the WTA Tour Championship last year. She has won six titles and reached at least the semifinals at 14 of 15 events this season to overtake Williams for the top spot in the rankings. She is seeking her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.

Henin-Hardenne is ranked No.3 and won six titles, including the French Open, this season. She reached at least the quarterfinals in all 13 of her tournaments leading to the U.S. Open.

Williams, ranked No.2, won the Australian and Wimbledon championships and was a semifinalist at the French Open. She is currently recuperating from knee surgery that prevented her from defending her U.S. Open championship.

Five more players will be added to fill the field.

Logistical logjam

Rain limited the U.S. Open to three complete matches on Monday and Tuesday, causing a huge schedule backup.

On a normal Day 10, the Open would have the last two women's quarterfinals and the first two men's quarterfinals on the schedule. With the weather problems, the 2003 Open had two fourth-round women's matches, two women's quarterfinals and seven fourth-round men's matches scheduled.