Kim Clijsters - A final sprint that gives hope
Kim Clijsters was eliminated in round one of her comeback on the WTA tour - but the performance against Garbine Muguruza after seven and a half years of competition was impressive .
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Feb 18, 2020, 09:15 am
By Jörg Allmeroth from Dubai
It was getting close to midnight when Kim Clijsters looked back at her day in Dubai's fashionable aviation club. On her first match on the second comeback, on the comeback in the middle of a duel with Garbine Muguruza, the Australian Open finalist: "It was fun," said Clijsters, "it was a really good experience out there." a 2: 6, 0: 3 deficit was no longer rewarded, the 36-year-old Belgian still felt like a second winner on this mild winter evening in the desert. When Clijsters struggled into the game point by point, game after game, cheered on by hundreds of Belgian fans, the old qualities of the four-time Grand Slam winner shimmered again impressively - only with the lost tie-break in set two the honorable 2: 6, 6: 7 (6: 8) defeat was finally sealed.
It didn't sound like a cheap compliment, but it did sound like a serious warning when Muguruza later confessed: “That was just the beginning of Kim. It will cause us a lot of trouble. ”In the coming weeks, when Clijsters takes part in the tournaments in Monterrey, Mexico and the US mega event in Indian Wells, she does not want to look primarily at the numbers, at the bare result. Rather, she said after the Dubai premiere, “the way I find my way back into competition mode. How I react to challenges. How to become a professional player again. "
Clijsters overwhelmed with nervousness
It's been seven and a half years since Clijster's last game at the 2012 US Open when she marched into the field against Muguruza. But the long, long break, the real farewell to retirement, was only noticeable in the first 45 minutes of the game. Clijsters initially produced too many mistakes and double mistakes, the nervousness overwhelmed her time and time again. She shook her head, devouring the discontent. But when one thought of a crashing failure of this comeback debut, the old Clijsters reappeared in every respect: with its punch, with clear, precise profit strikes. But, above all, with their strong mentality, willingness to never give up even in hopeless situations. "I was relieved that I made this change," said the mother of three later, "at times I even dominated the game."
In the social media universe, old greats like Chris Evert bowed to the mid-thirties: “Very impressive,” Clijsters said, the former world number one from the United States noted, “that made you want more.” Clijsters had one "Clear message" sent to the rest of the tour, ex-frontwoman Tracy Austin (USA) said, "She can play at the highest level again." And also Serena Williams, the dominant player of the past 20 years, the 23-time major winner , spoke up: "I am so proud of you, Kim. You are an inspiration, you played great. "
"It will be an exciting journey"
Clijsters said she was “incredibly grateful” for the support and compliments from her colleagues, but she also knew: “I am now someone you would like to hit. Someone with whom you will be on the pitch with great, great ambition as an opponent. "Clijsters is not doggedly looking for quick success in the near and medium future, she has" real patience ", she said," I know that that is not a 100-meter run, but a long-distance distance. And I want to do that too. ”It should be like the game against Muguruza, at the premiere in Dubai:“ I always want to feel better and better. And at some point I have the feeling that I am now fully involved in this. ”
One thing she could say in any case, Clijsters finally recorded that night from Dubai: “It was right to try again with the comeback. To follow his heart, his feeling. It will be an exciting journey now. "