Former world No.1 Kim Clijsters is set to return to professional tennis in three months time after recently suffering an injury blip.
Clijsters, who last played on the WTA Tour back in 2012, have confirmed that she is aiming to start her return to the tour in March at the age of 36. The three-time US Open champion had initially been hoping to start her campaign earlier in 2020 before a knee injury caused a delay in her preparation. The Belgian suffered a grade 2-3 sprain of the medial collateral ligament whilst playing a game of padel.
“In early November, Kim Clijsters sustained a severe tear in her right MCL during a game of padel,” a press release from Clijsters’ team published on wtatennis.com reads.
“Official diagnosis: grade 2-3 sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) (ligamentum collateral mediate). No surgery was required; Kim has been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation under the supervision of Sam Verslegers of Groep Sam at the Kim Clijsters Academy in Bree (Belgium). Given the positive progress, she has returned to the tennis courts and practice schedule last week.”
2020 will be the second time the Belgian has staged a comeback to the WTA Tour. Initially retiring from the sport in 2007, she returned two years later. It was during that comeback where she won three out of her four grand slam titles.
It is set to be in the Mexican city of Monterrey, where Clijsters will start her latest comeback at the Abierto GNP Seguros Open. The WTA International event will get underway on March 2nd. A Belgian player has never won the tournament, but Kirsten Flipkens did reach the final back in 2016. After Monterrey, she plans to play a duo of events in America at both Indian Wells and Charlston.
“I’ve had a really good last couple of weeks regarding me knee. It’s feeling much better, but not fully healed yet.” She said in a video uploaded to social media.
“I’m definitely building up my intensity in practice and it feels really good so I am looking forward to playing my first tournament.’
“Practice has been long enough, but I have to be patient for a few more weeks and then I be ready to go.”
So far in her career, Clijsters has won 41 WTA titles and spent a total of 20 weeks as world No.1. Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame back in 2017, she is the only player in history to defeat both of the Williams sisters at the same event twice. Doing so at the 2002 WTA Championships and 2009 US Open.
Clijsters have earned more than $24 million in prize money in her career to date.
https://twitter.com/Clijsterskim/status/1209054637854208000
The schedule
- March 2nd – Monterrey Open (will be her tournament debut)
- March 9th BNP Paribas Open/Indian Wells (will be her ninth appearance and she is a two-time former champion)
- April 6th – Charleston Open (first clay event and tournament debut)
See also: The Return Of Kim Clijsters: 10 Facts To Know About The Belgian Star
