Kim Clijsters stuns tennis world with shock announcement
Seven years after retiring from tennis a second time, Kim Clijsters is attempting another comeback at age 36.
The former No.1 and four-time major champion, who already is a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, announced Thursday she is planning to return to the pro tour in 2020, although she's not yet ready to say exactly when or where or how often she will compete.
“My goal right now ... is to be able to get fit enough, and ready tennis-wise, to compete at the highest level. That to me would be my challenge, as of right now,” Clijsters said.
“And if you get to that stage, then you push yourself, and then it might be like, ‘Hmm, let's see if I can get, I don't know, to the second week of a Grand Slam.’
“I'll constantly push myself, I think, if I feel that I'm getting better and improving.
“But it's very hard for me to think about right now, and very unrealistic at this stage, to think, 'I want to try and get to a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam,’” she said.
“I don't think like that, because I'm in the moment, and I know how much work I still have ahead.”
Hi guys, I’m excited to finally be able to share this news with you… #wta #2020 pic.twitter.com/tm7jYMEwrH
— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) September 12, 2019
Clijsters turned pro in 1997, won the US Open for the first time in 2005 and walked away from tennis in 2007 at just 23, shortly before getting married to an American basketball player, Brian Lynch.
After about two years away while having a daughter, Clijsters returned and soon won the 2009 US Open, making her the first mother to collect a Grand Slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980.
With a baseline game built on terrific court coverage, the Belgian won another championship at Flushing Meadows in 2010, then added an Australian Open title the following season and moved back atop the rankings.
Clijsters, who now has three children, left the tour again in 2012 and has been working as a television broadcaster.
“I do think the level and the power that a lot of the women bring is higher than maybe in the past, and it's higher at a consistent level,” she said.
“If I want to be able to compete with these girls, I'm going to have to be the fittest that I ever have been and to be able to move like I did in the past.”
How Clijsters’ comeback will work
She said the earliest stages of her comeback bid have been filmed by a documentary crew for the past six months, although she decided for sure to give this a real try only in recent weeks.
WTA rules allow her, as a past Grand Slam champion, to receive unlimited wild-card invitations to tournaments and, as someone who is older than 30, to opt out of mandatory appearances at certain events.
“I know that I'm not going to play - not even close to - a full season,” Clijsters said, adding that her intention is to be ready for January.
Clijsters said having her kids in school allowed her to get back on a practice court during the day.
“I have girlfriends now who, at times, struggle to find 'me' time and find their passion and find the time to live for their passion and still balance being a mum,” she said.
“And I do feel like ... 'Me, too.' I'm 36 years old. I know in four years, I'm not going to be able to do this.
“I've always followed my instincts. I was very young when I retired to have my first daughter, and came back. To do it now, I think, to me, is a challenge. And I love the challenge. I'm not afraid of it.”
Surprise in the tennis world as Kim Clijsters, now a mother of three children, announces a third comeback at the age of 36. Remember thinking she played well against Venus at Wimbledon exhibition (lost 9-7 in one-set tiebreak) but did not see this coming. https://t.co/hZ6qCYRoiB
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) September 12, 2019
I think the first time I saw her his this shot I had goosebumps all over my body and couldn't move for a while. Poems should be written about this shot. This woman. My god. 😭💙🙌🏾 #KimClijsters https://t.co/4DfQgQEdqY
— Aishwarya Kumar (@kumaraishwarya) September 12, 2019
Our reigning champion was 12 when Kim Clijsters last played professional tennis.
Let that sink in. 🤯 https://t.co/gCR7MrKOR7— Rogers Cup (@rogerscup) September 12, 2019
No one saw this coming.
If Serena can do it at 37, I can do the same at 36! ...Kim Clijsters Returns! #tennis😏💥https://t.co/tjtV1ETwiL— biodun yusuf (@bideyy) September 12, 2019
I woke up today with the news that Kim Clijsters is returning after a 7-year hiatus, Halep is back with Darren Cahill, and I still haven’t accepted that Serena’s lost 4 major finals in a row pic.twitter.com/F8LCTjVJfn
— Matt Dowell (@TheMattDowell) September 12, 2019