via Getty
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Kim Clijsters of Belgium smiles during the mixed doubles match between John McEnroe of the United States and his partner Kim Clijsters of Belgium and Martina Navratilova of the United States and Jamie Murray of Great Britain during the Wimbledon No. 1 Court Celebration in support of the Wimbledon Foundation at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on May 19, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
via Getty
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Kim Clijsters of Belgium smiles during the mixed doubles match between John McEnroe of the United States and his partner Kim Clijsters of Belgium and Martina Navratilova of the United States and Jamie Murray of Great Britain during the Wimbledon No. 1 Court Celebration in support of the Wimbledon Foundation at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on May 19, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Kim Clijsters will miss the Australian Open for the second year in a row. As a result, her possible comeback is expected at the Dubai Open in March.
Last year, Kim withdrew from the opening Grand Slam because of a knee injury. She could only manage to play 3 matches in the whole year; she lost all of them.
Positive on a comeback, fans expected to see the Belgian in February. However, they will now have to go through the entire Australian Summer without the “Aussie Kim”.
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Kim Clijsters can start her season in Dubai from March 7
via Getty
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 19: Kim Clijsters of Belgium smiles during the mixed doubles match between John McEnroe of the United States and his partner Kim Clijsters of Belgium and Martina Navratilova of the United States and Jamie Murray of Great Britain during the Wimbledon No. 1 Court Celebration in support of the Wimbledon Foundation at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on May 19, 2019, in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Clijsters was simultaneously the World No. 1 in women’s singles and doubles ranking in 2003. She was also the first player from Belgium to hold that rank. Currently, she is outside the top 1000.
Despite her rank, the Australian Open would have given her the wildcard. The Belgian’s 4 singles and 2 doubles Grand Slam titles are credible enough for her.
Kim’s latest triumph in Australia came back in 2011. Hence, she could’ve felt more comfortable in Melbourne Park.
But now, the 3-time US Open champion is training for the season after Australia. Notably, the Belgian won all the three titles in consecutive years at Flushing Meadows.
After 7 and a half years in retirement, Clijsters took the wildcard to play in Dubai last year. It makes even more sense for her to start her year from thereon.
At 2020 Dubai Open, she got eliminated in the first round against Spanish-Venezuelan Garbine Muguruza. However, Kim, if she finds the right momentum, will not take long to start a winning spree.
Without Kim, Australian Open to go onboard from February 8th
via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 28: Serena Williams of the United States celebrates defeating Catherine McNally of the United States during their Women’s Singles second-round match on day three of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 28, 2019, in the Flushing neighbourhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Time and again, new challenges have arisen in Australia amid the pandemic scare in the world. But with organisers breaking backs for the event, the Australian Open will commence from the second week of February.
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Unfortunately, along with Kim, many players have withdrawn from the Australian Summer. Most of them took the decision for health reasons.
Read More: Belinda Bencic Announces Unfortunate Ahead of Australian Open 2021
The American great Serena Williams is expected to turn up the heat in Melbourne Park. She is on a quest to win her 24 Grand Slam title next year.
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As for Kim, fans hope that she comes back on the court soon and shows her magic once again. Until then, all eyes will be on the Australian Open.
Also Read: Sofia Kenin and Garbine Muguruza on Collision Course at WTA Abu Dhabi 2021
