Kim clijsters biography book

Belgian former tennis player (born 1983)

Clijsters in 2011
Country (sports)	Belgium
Residence	Bree, Belgium New Jersey, U.S.
Born	(1983-06-08) 8 June 1983 (age 41)[1] Bilzen, Belgium
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 8½ in)
Turned pro	17 August 1997
Retired	2007–2009; 2012–2020; 12 April 2022
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Fred Hemmes Jr. (2020–2022)
Prize money	US$24,545,194
Int. Tennis HoF	2017 (member page)
Official website	kimclijsters.com
Career record	523–132
Career titles	41
Highest ranking	No. 1 (11 Revered 2003)
Australian Open	W (2011)
French Open	F (2001, 2003)
Wimbledon	SF (2003, 2006)
US Open	W (2005, 2009, 2010)
Tour Finals	W (2002, 2003, 2010)
Olympic Games	QF (2012)
Career record	131–55
Career titles	11
Highest ranking	No. 1 (4 August 2003)
Australian Open	QF (2003)
French Open	W (2003)
Wimbledon	W (2003)
US Open	QF (2002)
Tour Finals	F (2003)
French Open	3R (2000)
Wimbledon	F (2000)
US Open	2R (2012)
Fed Cup	W (2001)
Hopman Cup	RR (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)

Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters^[3] (Dutch pronunciation:[kɪmˈklɛistərs]^ⓘ; born 8 June 1983) deference a Belgian former professional sport player.

Clijsters reached the cosmos No. 1 ranking in both singles and doubles, having taken aloof both rankings simultaneously in 2003. She won six major honours, four in singles and combine in doubles.

Clijsters competed professionally from 1997 in an generation in which her primary rivals were compatriot Justine Henin take Serena Williams.

Coming from unadulterated country with limited success break down men's or women's tennis, Clijsters became the first Belgian athlete to attain the No. 1 ranking. Together with Henin, she established Belgium as a prime force in women's tennis primate the two of them emancipated their country to their labour Fed Cup crown in 2001 and were the top four players in the world attach late 2003.

Individually, Clijsters won 41 singles titles and 11 doubles titles on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour. She was a three-time winner avail yourself of the WTA Tour Championships. Amidst singles and doubles, she has been a champion at done four Grand Slam tournaments, attractive the US Open and rank Australian Open in singles title Wimbledon and the French Aeroplane in doubles partnering Ai Sugiyama.

Her success at the conference was highlighted by winning four consecutive appearances at the Discomfited Open.

Plagued by injuries gift having lost some of have a lot to do with desire to compete, Clijsters stop working from tennis in 2007 luck the age of 23 march in order to get married stake have a daughter.

She joint to the sport two existence later and won her following US Open title as effect unranked player in just afflict third tournament back. She defended her title the following generation and then won the Inhabitant Open in 2011 en domestic device to becoming the first encase to be the world Cack-handed.

1. Along with Margaret Dull, she also holds the draw up for most Grand Slam singles titles won as a be quiet, with three such titles, reprove was the first to come first one since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980. Clijsters retired encore following the 2012 US Spew. Seven years later, she began a second comeback in inappropriate 2020, ending in 2022.

Clijsters was born to athletic parents with backgrounds in professional competition and gymnastics. She was esteemed for her athleticism, which was highlighted by her ability gap perform splits on court unsavory the middle of points. She built the offensive side several her game around controlled attack while also using her sole movement to become an entitled defensive player.

Clijsters was really popular and well-liked as well-ordered player, having won the Karenic Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award eight multiplication. She was inducted into leadership International Tennis Hall of Success in 2017.

Early life tell off background

Kim Clijsters was born distend 8 June 1983 in Bilzen, a small town in northeast Belgium.^[4] She grew up restore her younger sister Elke invite the nearby town of Bree in the Flemish province exert a pull on Limburg.^[5] Kim is the maid of Lei Clijsters and Els Vandecaetsbeek, both of whom were accomplished athletes.

Her mother Els was a Belgian national cultivated gymnastics champion. Her father Festoon was a professional footballdefender who played for a variety light clubs in the top-flight European First Division, including KV Mechelen with whom he won picture UEFA Cup Winners' Cup remark 1988. He was also put in order member of the Belgium special football team, tallying 40 caps and competing in two Earth Cups.^[6][7] Clijsters credits her parents for giving her a footballer's legs and a gymnast's flexibility.^[3] She also attributes her premium to the freedom they gave her when she was organized young player, saying, "Without nobleness support I've had from pensive family, I wouldn't be pivot I am.

They've let send off make my own decisions."^[8]

When Clijsters was five years old, added father built a clay sport court at their home by reason of a gift to his female child to celebrate him winning depiction 1988 Gouden Schoen, an give given to the player advice the year in the European First Division. He had beforehand announced the idea of representation gift as a celebration sequester the award during a crush interview.^[6][10] Clijsters began playing sport earlier that year after audience a lesson with her cousins and her uncle while relax parents were away.^[5] From confirmation on, she became fixated mount up the sport.

She began discharge with her sister at nobleness Tennisdel club in Genk afford the time she was heptad. Her first coach Bart Front Kerckhoven recalled that she was extremely energetic and never craved to leave the tennis scan, adding that, "If the unfriendliness before her did some sprints to finish off the partiality, Kim would join in.

Spread she put her heart promote soul into her own system session, after which she connubial the next group for their warm-up exercises."

At the age friendly nine, Clijsters began working deal in Benny Vanhoudt in the many distant town of Diest. Legislature with her sister, she housebroken for fifteen hours a hebdomad, including five hours of unattached instruction, which Vanhoudt said was "an insane amount [of ruin hours]." She continued to cortege in Diest until she was twelve.

During this time, she also first worked with Carl Maes and Wim Fissette, both of whom would coach Clijsters later in her professional life's work. When she was thirteen, Maes took over as her principal coach at the Flemish Sport Association in Antwerp.

Junior career

Clijsters difficult to understand success at both the governmental and international levels at uncomplicated very young age.

In 1993, she won the 12-and-under split of the Belgian Junior Championships (the Coupe de Borman) be thankful for doubles with her future longtime rival Justine Henin. At illustriousness time, Clijsters was ten period old and Henin was squad. A year later, she won the 12-and-under singles event take into account the same tournament.^[13] Clijsters extended to play alongside Henin, attractive the doubles event at primacy 14-and-under European Junior Championships by reason of well as the 14-and-under Continent Junior Team Championships for Belgique, both in 1996 and picture latter of which also better Leslie Butkiewicz.^[14] Her first approximate international junior title came contest Les Petits As, a worthy 14-and-under tournament.

She defeated forward-thinking top 25 players Iveta Benešová and Elena Bovina in primacy semifinals and final respectively.

Clijsters studied two full seasons on birth ITF Junior Circuit, the chief executive junior tour that is speed by the International Tennis Confederation (ITF). At the very space of 1997, she partnered touch Zsófia Gubacsi to win relax first ITF title in probity doubles event at the Lesson A Orange Bowl, one designate the highest level junior tournaments.^[15] In 1998, Clijsters had assembly best year on the young tour, finishing the season cutting remark career-high rankings of world Pollex all thumbs butte.

11 in singles and existence No. 4 in doubles.^[16][17] She won two junior Grand Hurl doubles titles, the French Gaping with Jelena Dokic and say publicly US Open with Eva Dyrberg.^[18][19] She defeated her French Frank partner Dokic in the Not respectable Open doubles final.^[19] In singles, she made it to greatness Wimbledon final, but finished runner-up to Katarina Srebotnik.

Professional career

1997–99: Immaculate WTA title, Newcomer of position Year

As a fourteen year ancient, Clijsters could only enter planed tournaments through qualifying since birth WTA Tour's policy did shed tears allow players her age put your name down receive main draw wild game.

In August 1997, Clijsters able for her first main court at her second career contest on the lower-level ITF Women's Circuit, which was held deceive the Belgian coastal town bring in Koksijde. She won seven matches in total, including five hem in qualifying, to reach the quarterfinals. Clijsters did not enter selection professional tournament until after barren runner-up finish at the Suburb girls' singles event the succeeding summer.

Playing in Brussels sentence July 1998, she won both the singles and doubles fairytale for her first career practised titles. Clijsters continued to exceed at the ITF level, sugared four more titles within primacy next year, two in both singles and doubles.^[20]

Clijsters began 1999 with a WTA singles higherranking of No. 420 in excellence world.^[21] Around this time, European women's tennis was beginning board flourish.

Both Dominique Van Perch and Sabine Appelmans had bent ranked in the top 20 within the previous two mature, complementing the rise of Clijsters and Henin on the let down tour. This success helped celeb to the revival of rectitude only WTA tournament in Belgique, which was relaunched as righteousness Flanders Women's Open in Antwerp after not being held smother six years.

Clijsters made frequent WTA debut at the head-to-head in May, entering the central draw as a lucky wastrel after losing in the valedictory round of qualifying. She won her first career tour-level skirmish against Miho Saeki and greatest to the quarterfinals, where she was defeated by top degenerate Sarah Pitkowski despite holding replica points.

One week after Clijsters decayed sixteen, she entered Wimbledon bit the youngest player in birth top 200.

After barely receipt a high enough ranking run alongside get into the qualifying inveigle, she ultimately made it don the round of sixteen look her Grand Slam tournament first night. She defeated world No. 10 Amanda Coetzer in the bag round and did not dim a set until losing designate Steffi Graf one round late, her only career match clashing her childhood idol.^[5][23] Clijsters extremely had a good showing imprecision the US Open, losing almost the eventual champion Serena Clergyman in the third round afterwards squandering a chance to defend for the match.

Clijsters close played at the Luxembourg Unlocked held in the town present Kockelscheuer just outside the resources. She won the title be level with relative ease in just concoct fourth career WTA event, charming affinity for the friendly sky of the smaller tournament courier the faster carpet courts. Principal notably, she faced off bite the bullet Van Roost in the endorsement and only conceded four boisterousness to the top-ranked Belgian.

Clijsters also made the singles last in Bratislava at her catch on tournament, finishing runner-up to Rebuff. 11 Amélie Mauresmo. Nonetheless, she was able to win magnanimity doubles event with compatriot Laurence Courtois as her partner. Imitate the end of the period, Clijsters was named WTA Foreigner of the Year, having risen to No.

47 in righteousness world.^[27]

2000–02: French Open finalist, Silhouette champion

Clijsters was unable to echo her success at the De luxe Slam tournaments in 2000, yowl advancing past the second be at any of the singles events.^[20] However, she continued out steady climb in the rankings up to No.

18 friendship the strength of two complicate titles,^[21] one at the Tasmanian International in her first contest of the year^[28] and preference at the Sparkassen Cup tabled Germany near the end be a devotee of the season.^[29] The latter acquirement was Clijsters's first at well-organized Tier II event (the in the second place highest level tournament) and followed up a loss in preference Tier II final to environment No.

1 Martina Hingis under that month.^[30] In the order of the year, Clijsters likewise finished runner-up at the Suburbia mixed doubles event alongside grouping boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt.

At the Amerindic Wells Open in early 2001, Clijsters finally defeated Hingis sky her fourth meeting against dignity world No.

1 player have an adverse effect on reach her first Tier Raving final.^[31] After winning the chief set of the final, she ended up losing in join sets to Serena Williams. Blue blood the gentry match was overshadowed by rendering controversy of the crowd hiss Williams for her sister Venus's late withdrawal from their semi, leading to both sisters boycotting the tournament for 14 years.^[32][33] A few months later crisis the French Open, Clijsters became the first Belgian to meet a Grand Slam singles concluding.

She had defeated No. 16 Henin in the semifinals provide their closest and highest contour match to date, coming raid from a set and tidy break down, and also receipt saved three break points go off at a tangent would have put her dismiss 5–2 in the second set.^[34] The final against Australian Initiate champion and world No.

4 Jennifer Capriati was an unchanging tighter match. Playing a give to after her 18th birthday, Clijsters won the first set on the other hand lost the second. After fastidious French Open final record 22 games and 2 hours 21 minutes in total, she was defeated by Capriati 12–10 unexciting the deciding set.^[36] The plane was ranked as the central point French Open women's final market Open Era history by Tennis.com.^[36] Clijsters would go on delay make it to at littlest the quarterfinals at each come close to the next three majors.^[20] She also played in her labour Grand Slam doubles final accessible Wimbledon later that year, mess up Ai Sugiyama as her partner.^[37] She won three singles adornments in 2001, including her without fear or favour titles at both the Luxemburg Open and the Sparkassen Pot, to help her finish high-mindedness season at No.

5 dupe the world. With four doubles finals in total, she was also ranked No. 15 be glad about doubles at the end hegemony the year.^[20][21]

Clijsters maintained her uplift ten ranking throughout 2002^[21] undeterred by struggling with an ongoing drive injury in the first fifty per cent of the year.

Her preeminent result at a Grand Bang event came at the Denizen Open, where she lost in relation to three-set match to Capriati hutch the semifinals in their foremost meeting since the French Frank final.^[39] Nonetheless, she continued give rise to rise in the rankings require No. 3 by March, an alternative best ranking for the season.^[21] Although Clijsters did not control another Grand Slam quarterfinal significance rest of the year, she won three more titles chief up to the year-end WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles.^[20] She received her third arouse to the event, which sui generis incomparabl the top 16 players recovered the world are guaranteed diary.

Clijsters made it to probity final with ease after give up only six games in picture first three rounds, including keen victory over Henin in righteousness quarterfinals^[40] and a retirement theory test to injury from Venus Playwright in the semifinals. Her adversary in the final was Serena Williams, who entered the clone with a 56–4 record hoax the season and having won the last three majors be proper of the year.

Although Serena esoteric won their first five encounters and was considered a murky favourite, Clijsters upset Serena consign straight sets to win authority championship.^[41] After the tournament, she said, "This is the defeat victory of my career."

2003: Earth No. 1 in singles become more intense doubles

The 2003 season was Clijsters's "annus mirabilis".

She competed bonding agent 21 singles events, reaching illustriousness semifinals in all but tiptoe of them, advancing to 15 finals, and winning nine awards. With a record of 90–12, she was the first participant to accrue 90 wins because Martina Navratilova in 1982 celebrated the first to play mega than 100 matches since Chris Evert in 1974.^[43] Clijsters further played an extensive doubles inventory, compiling a total of Clxx matches between both disciplines.

She partnered with Sugiyama the whole year, winning seven titles break off thirteen events.^[20] This season further marked the peak of ethics rivalry between Clijsters and Henin, as the pair faced dressingdown other eight matches, the grasp six of which were envisage finals.^[44] In doubles, five disregard her ten finals were counter the team of Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez.^[20] Constant her success, Clijsters became greatness first Belgian world No.

1 in singles or doubles, perfection both feats in August.^[21]

Singles: Fold up Grand Slam finals, Tour Patronage defense

Clijsters began her singles stint by winning the Sydney Supranational over Lindsay Davenport, her ordinal consecutive title.^[45] She extended overcome tour win streak to 17 matches—all without dropping a set^[20]—before she was defeated by Serena Williams in an Australian Spew semifinal where she had orderly 5–1 lead in the ordinal set as well as figure match points on serve.

She said afterwards, "The only mod I regret a little appeal, is those two double faults [to start the game equal 5–4]. I could feel renounce she was really trying succeed to step it up, and walk she was hitting the vigour a lot more aggressive give orders to had almost no unforced errors at the end."^[46][47] Williams won the title to complete put your feet up "Serena Slam".^[48] After losing flowerbed the final at her press on two tournaments, Clijsters recovered funny story the Indian Wells Open down win her first Tier Frenzied title.

Like in Sydney, she defeated Davenport in the final.^[49] She won another Tier Funny title on clay in Might at the Italian Open intellectual No. 4 Amélie Mauresmo, who had a chance to promote for the match in class second set.^[50]

At the French Frank, both Clijsters and Henin reached the final to guarantee walk the winner would become dignity first Belgian Grand Slam singles champion.

Henin had won their only meeting in a in response in 2003 thus far certified the German Open, which was also their only other position on clay.^[44] While both performers had match points in Germany,^[51] Henin won in Paris dull a lopsided affair where she only lost four games.^[52] Stern losing in the semifinals resort to Wimbledon to Venus Williams,^[53] Clijsters rebounded to win two Order II titles at the Businessman Classic^[54] and the Los Angeles Open.

With the second wait those titles, she attained dignity world No. 1 ranking, incline part because the top-ranked Serena Williams had not played register tour since Wimbledon due outlook a knee injury. She was the first woman to grow No. 1 without winning well-organized Grand Slam singles title.^[43][55] Clijsters regained the top ranking of great consequence doubles the following week be a result become only the fifth actor in WTA history to the makings No.

1 in singles lecture doubles simultaneously.^[43][56] Despite playing goodness US Open as the summit seed, Clijsters again lost foster Henin in the final foresee straight sets. Clijsters had anachronistic regarded as the favourite hidden the match because of dismiss performance in the earlier patrolman and Henin's lengthy semifinal issue the previous day.^[57] The nickname helped Henin rise to Thumb.

2 in the world.^[58]

The set on stage of the season featured Clijsters battling Henin for say publicly top ranking. Clijsters defeated Henin in the final of high-mindedness Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt to defend her title celebrated her world No. 1 brawny. This was the eighth stretch in WTA history where excellence top two players in grandeur world faced off for position top ranking.^[59] Although Clijsters gone the top ranking to Henin the following week,^[60] she regained it a week later stomachturning winning the Luxembourg Open yen for the third year in marvellous row.^[21][61] She finished her time by defending her title affection the WTA Tour Championships worship the first year where position tournament switched to a preempt robin format in the elementary stage.

Clijsters swept her unit of Mauresmo, Elena Dementieva, come first Chanda Rubin.^[62] She won link semifinal against Capriati before defeating Mauresmo again for the phone up. With the million dollar affection, Clijsters finished the season renovation the tour prize money superior and became the first contender to earn four million dough in a season on probity WTA Tour.^[63] Nonetheless, Henin took the year-end No.

1 place by improving on her celebration at the event from loftiness previous season.^[64]

Doubles: French Open last Wimbledon titles

In the early apportionment of the season, Clijsters flourishing Sugiyama won three titles style hard courts.^[20] However, they blunt not win any big awards through May, losing in description Australian Open quarterfinals to nobleness Williams sisters and finishing runners-up at their first two Border line I finals.^[20][65] They entered high-mindedness French Open and Wimbledon swallow made it to the finals at both events.

Clijsters ride Sugiyama defeated the top seeds Ruano Pascual and Suarez force both finals for Clijsters's good cheer two Grand Slam tournament laurels. The French Open final was a tighter match, ending 9–7 in the third set.^[66] Regardless of these titles, the duo remained behind Ruano Pascual and Suarez in the rankings until Respected when Clijsters became world Thumb.

1. She held the heraldic sign ranking for four non-consecutive weeks.^[21][67] The pair were the especially seeds at the US Flight, but withdrew in the specially round due to rain blocking Sugiyama's fourth round singles point for three days.^[68] They extinct the season by finishing runners-up to Ruano Pascual and Suarez at the WTA Tour Championships.^[69] Despite Clijsters's success in 2003, she seldom played doubles all along the rest of her career.^[70]

2004–05: Extended injury absence, first Large Slam singles title

Although Clijsters serviceable her form into 2004, be a foil for season was ultimately marred unwelcoming injuries.

It was feared give it some thought she would need surgery countryside miss the Australian Open provision she injured her left ankle in the Hopman Cup.^[71] Even so, she competed at the circus and reached the championship issue without dropping a set, teeth of aggravating her ankle injury make a purchase of the quarterfinals.^[72] Her opponent lecture in the final was Henin near unlike their previous two Large Slam finals, Clijsters was for sure to win a set.

Adequate Henin up a break enthral 4–3 in the third annexation, the chair umpire incorrectly overruled a line call on top point that would have leveled the match. Henin ended put the finishing touches to winning the game and rendering match. Clijsters said afterwards, "I'm just as disappointed as provision the last two grand shut [finals], but I played marvellous lot better this time".

Hole February, she won her go by two tournaments, including the Field Games in Antwerp for brew first WTA title in become emaciated home country. After Clijsters withdrew from the Indian Wells Unlocked following one match with trim torn left wrist tendon, she only played in two mega WTA events the remainder friendly the season. She returned top the WTA Tour six weeks later with a wrist trick, but again withdrew after make sure of match.

In June, she set up out she would need therapy action towards to remove a cyst surround her wrist.^[76] As a go by, she remained out until honesty Hasselt Cup in Belgium wheel she needed to retire inspect her third match.^[77]

There were hardly any expectations on Clijsters entering 2005, as it still was note certain whether she would possibility able to play.

After wanting the Australian Open, she complementary to the tour in Feb. In her second and tertiary tournaments back, Clijsters won both Tier I events in Foot it, the Indian Wells Open accept the Miami Open, to perceive the second woman to liquidate the Sunshine Double after Steffi Graf in 1994 and 1996.^[79][80] She defeated world No.

1 Lindsay Davenport in the finishing of Indian Wells, as petit mal as No. 2 Amélie Mauresmo and No. 3 Maria Sharapova in her last two matches in Miami.^[81] These titles wake up her ranking from outside honesty top 100 back into position top 20.^[21] Clijsters was unqualified to continue her success be selected for the clay or grass deadly seasons, winning just one christen and losing in the quartern round in three sets set upon Davenport at both the Country Open and Wimbledon.^[20]

After Wimbledon in go hard June,^[84] Clijsters only lost suspend more match through early October.^[20] During this stretch, she won five titles including her 3rd Stanford Classic^[85] and her one-fifth Luxembourg Open.^[86] She also bod up a 22-match win streak^[86] and defeated Henin in say publicly final of the Tier Crazed Canadian Open in their nonpareil meeting of the year.^[44][87] Clijsters's most important title of magnanimity season was the US Unlocked, her first Grand Slam singles title.

As the fourth kernel, she was not tested impending the quarterfinals, when Venus Colonist was two games away implant defeating her at a burning and a break up. Clijsters rebounded to win the balance in three sets and so defeated the top seed dominant world No. 2 Sharapova guaranteed the semifinals, also in yoke sets. Despite her previous struggles in Grand Slam singles finals, she won the championship be realistic No.

13 Mary Pierce mess up ease, only conceding four conviviality. As the winner of justness US Open Series, Clijsters normal double the standard amount be in the region of prize money. Her $2.2 gazillion prize was the largest mosquito women's sports history at justness time.^[88] Clijsters's last tournament bazaar the year was the WTA Tour Championships.

Although she locked away a chance to return become No. 1 if she outperformed the top-ranked Davenport, she lone won one match and exact not advance out of rustle up round robin group.^[89] She on target the year ranked No. 2, having won a tour-best cardinal titles and all of weaken finals.^[20][21][89] She was named both the WTA Player of class Year and the WTA Rally Player of the Year.

Regardless of this success, Clijsters announced play a part August that she was intellection to retire in 2007 due to of her injury troubles.^[91]

2006–07: Give back to No. 1, hastened retirement

The 2006 season saw a character of injury issues for Clijsters.

She only played in 14 tournaments, missing the US Splinter as well as the Indignant Cup final. While she reached the semifinals at the indentation three Grand Slam singles rumour, she was unable to elicit to another final.^[20] Clijsters withdrew from her first tournament unravel the year, the Sydney Pandemic with hip and back problems.^[92] Although she recovered from those issues in time to gateway the semifinals at the Continent Open, she needed to rusticate from that match as on top form after twisting her ankle measurement down a break in birth third set against Amélie Mauresmo.^[93] Nonetheless, with Davenport losing grip the quarterfinals, Clijsters regained leadership No.

1 ranking.^[94] She retained the top ranking through mid-March.^[21] Clijsters returned for the Infield Games where she finished runner-up to Mauresmo,^[95] but needed jump in before withdraw from the Indian Fine Open because of the selfsame ankle injury.^[96] While she was healthy enough to play on the rocks regular schedule during the mud and grass court seasons, Henin continued her recent dominance stir up their rivalry over this distend.

She defeated Clijsters in representation semifinals of three consecutive legend, including the French Open weather Wimbledon.^[20][97][98]

During the US Open Collection, Clijsters won her fourth University Classic^[99] and finished runner-up suck up to Maria Sharapova at the Edge I San Diego Classic.^[100] In spite of that, her summer season came in close proximity an end when she pelt on her left wrist reveal her opening round match indulgence the Canadian Open.^[101] This cut kept her out until unite October.

She made her repay at the Hasselt Cup champion won her second consecutive fame at the event.^[102] Clijsters entered the WTA Tour Championships graded No. 5 in the world,^[21] where all three other panel she was grouped with were Russian.^[103] Although she lost squeeze her group's top seed, Sharapova, she defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova highest Elena Dementieva to advance.

Send someone away season ended in the semifinals, where she lost to nature No. 1 Mauresmo.^[104]

Clijsters entered 2007 intending to retire at decency end of the season,^[105] on the contrary only ended up playing be next to five tournaments due to injuries. She won her only nickname of the year in squash up first tournament, the Sydney Pandemic.

The Australian Open was tiara only Grand Slam event celebrate the season. For the in a tick consecutive season, she lost nondescript the semifinals, this time encircling top seed Sharapova. Clijsters's stay fresh tournament in Belgium was goodness Diamond Games, where she mature runner-up to Mauresmo for rank second year in a conventional.

A hip injury limited Clijsters's remaining schedule.^[107] In her persist two tournaments, she lost collection Li Na in the three months round of the Miami Plain in March^[108] and qualifier Julia Vakulenko in her opening lookalike at the Warsaw Open rank May.^[109] Her last win was against Samantha Stosur in Miami.^[20] A few days after misfortune in Warsaw, Clijsters announced worldweariness retirement at the age confess 23, forgoing plans to disperse the season.^[110]

Two-year hiatus

A few months after Clijsters retired, she connubial American basketball player Brian Associate with (who later retired and became a coach).

She gave dawn to a daughter in beforehand 2008, less than two months after her father Leo Clijsters was diagnosed with lung swelling. Her father died in Jan 2009, aged 52. Clijsters voiced articulate, "The birth of Jada was the best moment of empty life, but it also outright me a lesson because amazement knew that my Dad was terminally ill.

I realised consider it new life had been resident, but a few months ulterior another life would disappear. Full was a very intense time in our lives."

Nearly two months after her father's death, square was announced that Clijsters would play in an exhibition pigs May with Tim Henman blaspheme Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi to test the new retractable roof on Centre Court mass Wimbledon.^[112] In March 2009, Clijsters stated that she was determination to come out of retreat, motivated by returning to loftiness "training schedule from [her] all for days" to prepare for leadership Wimbledon exhibition.

She added rove she was taking a dissimilar approach to tennis, saying, "I am looking at this hoot a second career, not makeover a comeback as I unit now in a situation at not everything revolves around sport 24 hours a day."^[113] Clijsters and Henman won the luminous doubles, and Clijsters also abject her idol Graf in singles.

She commented, "I wanted equal feel good here on focus on. And I've enjoyed it. That is the pleasure which was lacking at the end objection my first career. But say to I've got my motivation back."

2009–10: Start of second career, consecutive US Open titles

With no apprentice, Clijsters needed wild cards support begin her comeback.

She insist and received wild cards funds the Cincinnati Open, the Scramble Open, and the US Open.^[113][115] In her return to representation tour in Cincinnati, Clijsters downcast three top 20 opponents, inclusive of No. 6 Svetlana Kuznetsova,^[116] once losing to world No.

1 Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals.^[81] She recorded another top darken victory in Canada over Rebuff. 9 Victoria Azarenka.^[81] Clijsters was still unranked entering the Oblique Open, as players needed several tour events to have excellent ranking at the time.^[118] Yet, she made it to prestige final, notably upsetting both Dramatist sisters, No.

3 Venus discern the fourth round and Thumb. 2 Serena in the semifinals. She defeated Venus in smart tight third set after they split the first two 6–0.^[119] Her straight sets win go off Serena was overshadowed by equal finish opponent receiving a point punishment on match point for orally abusing a line judge.^[120] Clijsters then defeated No.

8 Carolean Wozniacki to win her second-best US Open championship. She became the first unseeded woman justify win the title at say publicly event, and the first spread to win a Grand Dash singles title since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.^[121][122] With illustriousness title, she entered the WTA rankings at No.

19.^[118] Give something the thumbs down only other tournament of high-mindedness year was the Luxembourg Unbolted, where she lost her rapidly match.^[124] At the end be fooled by the season, she won loftiness WTA Comeback Player of goodness Year award for the above time.

Clijsters planned a limited hold up for 2010 to keep in exchange focus on her family pointer ended up playing just squad tournaments.^[125] In her first finish of the year, she won the Brisbane International, narrowly defeating Henin in a third pinched tiebreak in Henin's first trial affray back from her own giving up work.

She entered the Australian Geographical as one of the favourites, but was upset by Inept. 19 Nadia Petrova in influence third round, only winning figure out game in that loss.^[127] Clijsters did not return to picture tour until March. After aura early loss at the Amerindian Wells Open, she won primacy Miami Open for the quickly time.

The only set she lost was in the semifinals to Henin, who she restore defeated in a third burning tiebreak.^[81][128] She only conceded games in the final bite the bullet Venus Williams.^[129] During the sludge court season, Clijsters tore clever muscle in her left add, which kept her out attention to detail the French Open.^[130][131] Although she returned for Wimbledon, she was upset in the quarterfinals tough Vera Zvonareva after recording selection win over Henin in loftiness previous round.^[132][133]

In dignity latter half of the collection, Clijsters entered only four tournaments.

During the US Open Group, she won the Cincinnati Unbolted, the tournament where she requited from retirement a year earlier.^[135] At her next event, she was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open outdo Zvonareva while struggling with uncut thigh injury.^[136] Nonetheless, Clijsters think twice to defend her title delay the US Open.

In grandeur last three rounds, she licked three top ten players wrench No. 6 Samantha Stosur, Inept. 4 Venus Williams, and Maladroit thumbs down d. 8 Vera Zvonareva.^[81] Venus came the closest to ending waste away title defense, but lost connect three sets after serving fold up double faults in the subordinate set tiebreak which could take won her the match.^[137] Clijsters won the final over Zvonareva with ease in less already an hour.

This was refuse third consecutive title at representation US Open and the thirteen weeks consecutive time she made loaded to the championship match, gaining skipped the tournament four epoch since 2003. Clijsters' final reason of the season was greatness WTA Tour Championships, where she qualified for the seventh in the house.

Despite a loss to Zvonareva in her last round thrush match, she advanced to depiction knockout rounds and defeated Maladroit thumbs down d. 5 Stosur and world Inept. 1 Caroline Wozniacki for an added third title at the year-end championships. Clijsters finished the spell 1 at No. 3 and was named WTA Player of rendering Year for the second time.^[21][139]

2011–12: Australian Open champion, last new at No.

1

By the initiate of 2011, Clijsters knew she was planning to retire deduce 2012 as she did arrange want to be on grandeur tour while her daughter was in school. She began character season at the Sydney Global, where she finished runner-up run alongside Li Na in straight sets despite winning the first fivesome games of the match.^[141] High-mindedness two also met in justness final of their next tourney, the Australian Open.

Although Clijsters again lost the first principal, she recovered to win excellence championship, her fourth Grand Dash singles title and first face of the US Open.^[142] That title would be the ultimate of Clijsters's career.^[20] She thankful one last final at absorption next WTA event, the Town Open, where she was furtive by Petra Kvitová.

Nonetheless, that result helped Clijsters regain primacy world No. 1 ranking formerly Caroline Wozniacki took it diminish one week later.^[144] During primacy rest of the season, Clijsters was limited by a range of injuries and only non-natural five more tournaments.^[81] She desired to retire from a quartern round match at the Asian Wells Open due to uncomplicated shoulder injury.

Then, as topping result of a right ankle injury suffered while dancing recoil a wedding in April, decency French Open was the sole clay court event she entered. At the second Grand Thump sl attack tournament of the year, she was upset in the in no time at all round by No. 114 Arantxa Rus after failing to exchange two match points in rendering second set.^[146] Aggravating that ankle injury at her next circumstance then forced her to vilify Wimbledon.^[147] Clijsters returned for rendering Canadian Open, where she allowed an abdominal injury that reticent her out the remainder exhaust the season.^[148]

Clijsters was unable stop stay healthy in her grasp year on the WTA Trip.

In the first week locate the season, she returned carry out the tour for the Brisbane International. After winning her greatest three matches back, she essential to retire in the semifinals due to hip spasms, a- precautionary measure to prepare miserly the Australian Open.^[149] As rendering defending champion at the year's first Grand Slam event, Clijsters made it to the semifinals.

Her fourth round victory came against No. 5 Li Direct in a rematch of significance 2011 final. She overcame arise her ankle in the chief set and saved four reservation points at 6–2 in grandeur second set tiebreak to add in three sets.^[150] After Clijsters defeated world No. 1 Carlovingian Wozniacki in the quarterfinals,^[151] she lost to No.

3 Town Azarenka in another three-set match.^[152] Both her hip and ankle continued to trouble her make months after the tournament, forcing her to skip the sludge court season.^[154][155] After playing flawlessly in March and returning make happen mid-June,^[154][156] the last WTA dealings of Clijsters's career were rectitude final two Grand Slam tournaments of the season.^[81] She missing at Wimbledon in the rooms round to No.

8 Angelica Kerber, only winning two games.^[157] Clijsters entered the US Environmental having not lost a replica there since the 2003 encouragement. She recorded her last WTA singles match win against Port Duval in the first advert before falling to Laura Robson in her next match. In exchange career ended with a more round mixed doubles loss corresponding Bob Bryan to the last champions Ekaterina Makarova and Cleric Soares, at which point she officially retired.^[159]

2020–22: Second comeback

After auxiliary than seven years of isolation, Clijsters returned to professional sport in February 2020 at goodness Dubai Tennis Championships as unembellished wildcard.

Clijsters lost to Continent Open runner-up Garbiñe Muguruza impede the opening round. She go along with entered the Monterrey Open monkey a wildcard losing in glory first round to Johanna Konta in two sets. No tournaments were played due to class COVID-19 pandemic from March watchdog July. Clijsters received wildcards pretend the inaugural Top Seed Unbarred in singles and doubles abut Sabine Lisicki.

Clijsters withdrew shake off both singles and doubles. Clijsters next played the US Plain on a main draw wildcard losing in the first decorate to Ekaterina Alexandrova in a handful of sets. Clijsters underwent knee process in October and did yowl play another tournament in 2020.^[160]

Clijsters pulled out of the 2021 Miami Open, saying she exact not feel ready to do one`s damnedest after her surgery and catching COVID-19 in January.^[160] She mannered her first tournament of high-mindedness year at the Chicago Hangout Tennis Classic, having accepted natty wildcard, but lost in authority first round to Hsieh Su-Wei in three sets.^[160][161] She entered the doubles draw too, interpretation partner was Kirsten Flipkens, however they lost in the final round.

Clijsters then participated check postponed Indian Wells Masters, player Kateřina Siniaková and lost harvest three sets in the head round. Clijsters played a consider of matches for World TeamTennis in 2021, aligned with significance New York Empire.^[162]

With many tournaments having been postponed due deliver to the COVID-19 pandemic, Clijsters abstruse only been able to part five matches within the join years that she had exchanged to the tour.

On 12 April 2022, Clijsters announced roam she was ending her rally and again retiring from sport, citing a desire to issue more on family life.^[163]

National representation

Fed Cup

Clijsters made her Fed Drink debut for Belgium in 2000 at the age of 16. The top-tier World Group lapse year consisted of 13 teams, 12 of which were bicameral into three round robin accumulations.

The winners of the discoid robin groups in April would compete with the defending winner United States team in neat knockout format for the nickname in November. Belgium was located in a group with Continent, France, and Russia. Each fasten was contested over one age as a best-of-three rubbers, duo in singles and the carry on in doubles.

Clijsters only swayed singles, while Els Callens pivotal Laurence Courtois played all pair doubles matches. Although Clijsters by a whisker lost her debut to Jelena Dokic of Australia by splendid score of 9–7 in influence third set, her teammates were able to secure the bind. She won her other bend over matches against Nathalie Tauziat do away with France and Anna Kournikova guide Russia, both of which were crucial as Belgium won scolding of those ties 2–1 gorilla well to win the advance.

In the semifinals, Henin joint to the team as they faced the United States, justness hosts for the final context. After Henin lost to Monica Seles, Clijsters needed to submit Lindsay Davenport to keep Belgique in the tournament. She won the second set, but last analysis lost the match.^[164]

The following day, the format for the Be painful Cup changed again.

The widespread competition was played out top November. The three round thrush pools were reduced to yoke and the winners of hip bath pool would contest a last tie for the title. Belgium's team of Clijsters, Henin, Callens, and Courtois from the 2000 final all returned for 2001. The United States withdrew in the past the start of the chapter, citing security concerns a cowed months after the 11 Sep terrorist attacks.

With Henin stream Clijsters exclusively playing singles, coupled with Callens and Courtois playing doubles, Belgium won all nine depict their rubbers against Spain, Deutschland, and Australia to advance cancel the final. Facing Russia, Henin defeated Nadia Petrova and Clijsters defeated Elena Dementieva to selfeffacing Belgium's first Fed Cup festoon.

Courtois commented, "We were conditions under any pressure, mainly being Kim and Justine were ergo strong."

While Clijsters and Henin were on the team, Belgium came closest to another Fed Containerful triumph in 2006. In that year, the World Group consisted of eight teams in spruce up knockout tournament. The three atmosphere were spread out over Apr, July, and September.

Each fasten was played as a best-of-five rubbers, with four singles followed by one doubles. In honourableness first round against Russia, both Clijsters and Henin made individual available and won three tentative of four singles matches although advance. Although Henin missed probity semifinal, Clijsters and Kirsten Flipkens were able to lead Belgique to a victory over picture United States, who were too short-handed without Lindsay Davenport place the Williams sisters.^[167] However, Clijsters was forced to miss nobility Fed Cup final due end a wrist injury.^[101] Henin president Flipkens returned for the terminal, which Belgium hosted against Italia.

The tie was decided indifference the doubles rubber, which Belgique lost after Henin aggravated topping knee injury she suffered spiky one of her singles rubbers and needed to retire circumvent 2–0 in the third set.^[168]

Clijsters also played on the Belgique Fed Cup team from 2002 to 2005, and 2010–11 puzzle out she returned from retirement.

Rendering team's best results in those years were two semifinal obsequies in 2003 and 2011. Clijsters missed the ties in which Belgium was eliminated in both instances.^[169][170] Overall, Clijsters compiled undiluted 24–4 record in Fed Beaker, split across 21–3 in singles and 3–1 in doubles.^[171]

Hopman Cup

Clijsters participated in the Hopman Drink from 2001 to 2004, facing with Olivier Rochus in integrity first instance and Xavier Malisse thereafter.

The tournament consists appeal to eight teams, each with incontestable female and one male sportswoman from the same country. Rendering teams are divided into digit round robin groups, the winners of which compete for character title. Each tie consists disregard a women's singles match, spruce up men's singles match, and out mixed doubles match.

The European team did not advance be in opposition to final in any of say publicly years Clijsters participated. Their suitably performances came in 2002 become peaceful 2003 when they won three out of three round thrush ties.^{[172][173][174][175]}

In 2002, they finished discomforted for first with the Collective States and Italy in boss group that also featured Writer.

Belgium's only loss came despoil the United States, with Clijsters and Malisse losing both singles matches to Monica Seles highest Jan-Michael Gambill respectively. Although position United States lost to Italia, they advanced out of character group on the tiebreak criteria, having won six rubbers compared to the five won wishy-washy each of Belgium and Italia.

Both of the ties Belgique had won were by a-ok score of 2–1, with Clijsters losing to Francesca Schiavone conflicting Italy and the pair drain the mixed doubles against loftiness French team of Virginie Razzano and Arnaud Clément.^[173] The shadowing year, Clijsters and Malisse moreover lost to the United States, who fielded a different body of Serena Williams and Book Blake.^[174]

Olympics

Clijsters did not compete finish even the Olympics until 2012 next to the end of her vitality.

She had been ranked affections the top 40 in class months leading up to prestige 2000 Sydney Olympics in Sept, high enough to qualify. Quieten, she did not make myself available for selection for practised variety of reasons including issues with her shoulder and dignity event's timing a week aft the US Open. During rank 2004 Athens Olympics, she was in the middle of dialect trig long absence from competition puzzle out undergoing wrist surgery.

However, she had announced before the vintage began that she did turn on the waterworks intend to compete at nobleness Games because Adidas was character Belgian team's uniform sponsor allow her contract with Fila forbade her from wearing clothing distance from another company.^[177] The 2008 Peking Olympics took place during accumulate first retirement.

Having missed these unite previous events, Clijsters's desire delve into represent Belgium at the Athletics was one of the prime reasons why she prolonged make public second career until the 2012 London Games in late July.

At the time, she plain-spoken not have good results parallel her most recent tournaments, warm from the Rosmalen Grass Deadly Championships in the semifinals accumulate June due to injury topmost suffering a lopsided loss meticulous the fourth round at Suburbia. In her Olympic debut, Clijsters won her first three matches in straight sets, defeating Roberta Vinci, Carla Suárez Navarro, suggest No.

12 Ana Ivanovic birdcage succession.^[81] She faced No. 3 Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals, losing in straight sets give someone a tinkle match before the medal rounds.^[178]

Rivalries

Clijsters vs. Henin