After eight years, away from the tennis court, Kim Clijsters played her first match at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday. The 36-year-old’s first match since 2012 was against Garbine Muguruza in the first round of the Dubai tournament. Although she lost the match, the former world number one played fantastic tennis and was able to keep up with the Australian Open finalist.
Clijsters impresses despite losing to Muguruza
Muguruza won the match 6-2 7-6 but it was Clijsters’ performance that had fans buzzing. The four-time Grand Slam champion started the match slowly and lost the first set easily before showing glimpses of her old self in the second set. She went behind in the deciding set but saved several match points and almost came close to forcing a third set. The Belgian player showed that she could still be a threat to many players on the WTA court. Clijsters earned the adoration of many, including Serena Williams who congratulated the former world number one on her comeback.
Seriously so so so proud of Kim Clijsters. You inspire me. Wow. Just wow congrats you did amazing.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) February 18, 2020
Clijsters inspire Serena
Serena took to social media to express her delight at Clijsters’ performance. On her Twitter account, the 23-time Grand Slam champion said she was proud of the Belgian’s effort in Dubai. “Seriously, so proud of Kim Clijsters. You inspire me. Wow. Just wow congrats you did amazing.” Serena could draw inspiration from the four-time Grand Slam winner as she tries to win her first Grand Slam since her return to the court after having her daughter Olympia in 2017. The former world number one is chasing Margret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles and has been to three Grand Slam finals since her return. She will be looking to emulate Clijsters who won several major titles after she came back to the sport following the birth of her daughter Jada.
Clijsters retired briefly in 2007 to start a family. She married her Brian Lynch that year and the couple had their first child in 2008. Clijsters returned to the court in 2009. She won the US Open title that year as a wild card and famously celebrated with Jada during the trophy award ceremony. She won two more Grand Slam titles, at the US Open in 2010 and the Australian Open in 2011. The 36-year-old also ascended to the world number one ranking during that period and later retired for the second time in 2012. Her comeback will only motivate Serena who suffered a shock loss in the third round to Wang Qiang at the Australian Open last month.
Serena Williams’s ranking and performance in 2020
At the moment ranked no.9, Serena Williams played her last match on the 8th of February when she lost to Anastasija Sevastova 7-65 3-6 7-64 in the Rubber 4 in Fed Cup.
During this season Serena Williams has a 8-2 win-loss record. Serena has won 1 title in Auckland.
Kim Clijsters’s ranking and performance in 2020
Ranked world no., the Belgian played her last match on the 17th of February when she lost to Garbine Muguruza 6-2 7-66 in the 1st round in Dubai.
Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters played each other 9 times. The head to head is 7-2 for Williams.
The last time that they locked horns, Kim Clijsters won 6-4 7-5 in the semifinal in New York (U.S. Open) in September 2009.
Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters |
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Embed from Getty Images
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