“I Still Have The Same Passion For Tennis”: Kim Clijsters Ready For US Open 2020

Kim Clijsters is a six-time Grand Slam Champion. She reached Number 1 ranking in 2003. However, due to injuries and to start a family, Clijsters retired in 2007. Critics argued this retirement was premature.

It seems like Clijsters thought so too. She came back from retirement in 2009 to compete in the US Open. She won the competition as an unranked player and as a mother. Her comeback seemed straight out of fairytales. Along with Margaret Court, she is the only woman to win three grand slams after becoming a mother. She ranked as no. 1 again in 2011. She retired again in 2012. 

Now Clijsters is back again. She will participate in the upcoming US Open. She had to withdraw from the Western and Southern Open because of health issues.

Kim Clijsters can’t wait for the US Open

In a recent interview with the New York Times, the Belgian spoke about her second comeback in court. She says when she looks back at her life, she sees the difference.

When she was asked if winning matters most to her or not, she said, “I realized that winning is the goal, but it is the road to it that is the best part about being a tennis player. It’s the challenges you set, the obstacles that you have to overcome to try to become better, to get fitter.”

She continued, “Now, it’s balancing life, the kids, everything. It’s a challenge, but it’s great. From the moment I made the decision to try this, I haven’t looked back.”

For the first time, the Grand Slam won’t have any live crowd; it will be strange. The Hall-of-Famer said, “It will be weird. So, it’s going to be important to find that inner motivation. Obviously, one of the favorite moments of my career is nighttime matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium and just feeling the vibe of the US Open crowd. Hopefully next year.”

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Kim Clijsters is hopeful that fans will see her passion when she’s on the court.“I still have the same passion for tennis that I had 10 years ago when I was there. I’m sure they’ll see that when I’m out on the court.”

Can Kim Clijsters win her fourth US Open? Only time will tell.

US Open returns on 31st August, live from USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Centre.