Kim Clijsters is married and a mom these days. Now she hopes to again become a year-round professional tennis player.
The former top-ranked woman is ending a two-year retirement this summer, revving up with appearances in the World TeamTennis Pro League next week, followed by a three-tournament test run. After returning to the U.S. Open for the first time since winning it in 2005, Clijsters will decide if a full-fledged return to the tour next season is feasible.
"I've been training like a professional, with my mindset to coming back as a full professional. I'm just going to see after the U.S. Open how the whole trip went and just see which things I have to adjust," Clijsters said Friday. "Because it's a new experience for me, as well, traveling with a family and just being back on tour and everything. It's going to be completely different than it has been when I was on tour for 10 or 12 years in the past."
The 26-year-old Belgian left the sport in May 2007 to start a family. She married American Brian Lynch that year, and their daughter, Jada, was born in February 2008.
Clijsters called what she's doing now "starting back all over. I hardly played for two years."
She reached No. 1 in the singles and doubles rankings in August 2003, and won 34 career singles titles overall, including her Grand Slam championship at Flushing Meadows. She also was the runner-up at four major tournaments.
Clijsters was given wild cards to enter WTA tournaments at Mason, Ohio, and Toronto, followed by the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 31.
"We should only be so lucky that she would come back on a permanent basis," U.S. Open tournament director Jim Curley said. "Regardless of where we are - and where people think we are - as a sport, when the opportunity presents itself for a former Grand Slam singles champion and popular fan favorite to come back after retiring, that can only have a positive impact."
Before those three events, Clijsters is making her return to competition with World TeamTennis.
She will play matches at St. Louis on Tuesday and Philadelphia on Wednesday.
"It's great for the sport that Kim is back," World TeamTennis founder Billie Jean King said. "Kim has a great game and personality for WTT, so our fans are the real winners here."
Clijsters is looking forward to making her WTT debut with the St. Louis Aces.
"You want to have that tension again, and the official type of matches. Although it's not the same as a normal tournament, the atmosphere, I think, is there - and the tension and the pressure and the nerves and everything," Clijsters said.
She's been in New Jersey, staying with Lynch's family while getting ready for her return, so these initial trips aren't as daunting as they might be if Clijsters were in Belgium.
The past several months of preparation have been enjoyable. Still, she can't wait to compete.
"I like practicing," Clijsters said, "but I like playing matches better."
And she'll have an important new fan tagging along. How much of Clijsters' matches that fan actually will see is another matter.
"I don't know how much Jada will be able to sit in the stands," Mom said, "but she'll definitely come."
SOURCE: Associated Press
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