Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters announces surprise comeback

PARIS, France – Belgium’s former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters announced on Thursday, September 12, her return to competitive tennis in 2020, 7 years after retiring to become a stay-at-home mom of 3 children.

The 36-year-old four-time singles Grand Slam champion said she loved being a mom but missed the adrenalin of the tennis world tour.

“These last 7 years I’ve been a full-time mom. And I love it, I really do. But I also loved being a professional tennis player. And honestly I miss that feeling,” she said on Twitter.

Clijsters won the US Open in 2005, 2009 and 2010, and the Australian Open in 2011.

She initially retired in 2007 aged 23, making a return two years later after having her first child to win her second US Open, then hanging up her racket again after the 2012 US Open.

In a 51-second video on social media she asks: “Could I be a loving mom to 3 kids, and the best tennis player I can possibly be? 

“Let’s do this. Let’s come back one more time. See you in 2020.”

Her return next season was warmly welcomed by WTA chairman Steve Simon.

“Kim Clijsters ranks among the greats of the game and her return to the Tour is exciting news for the WTA family and tennis fans around the world,” he said.

Clijsters made her WTA debut aged 15 at Antwerp in 1999. She has 41 singles titles, and is the only mother to top the WTA charts since computer rankings began in 1975.

Despite her lengthy time out she still ranks 3rd among active players in terms of tournament success behind the Williams sisters – Serena with 72 titles and Venus with 49.

As well as her singles Grand Slam titles she won two more in doubles at the French Open and Wimbledon with Ai Sugiyama in 2003.

She told the WTA’s official website that her motivation to come out of retirement wasn’t that she felt she still had something to prove but rather for “the challenge.”

“I have friends who would say, I want to run the New York Marathon before I turn 50. For me, I still love to play tennis,” she said.

As a former world No. 1, Clijsters can expect unlimited wildcards next season. – Rappler.com