Kim Clijsters can still do it: exhibition victory over Leylah Fernandez
Kim Clijsters finally said goodbye to the WTA stage at the beginning of the year after an unsuccessful comeback attempt, but the Belgian still likes to pick up the racket at exhibition events. And quite successfully.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Dec 05, 2022, 10:30 am
All good things come in threes. That's probably what Kim Clijsters thought when it came to ending her professional career as a tennis player. Because the Belgian has announced her resignation three times. For the last, and probably final, time, the former world number one did so in early 2022 after a comeback attempt failed to bring any real success stories to light. "I can't wait for the new adventures that will come my way. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past two years," Clijsters wrote at the time.
These adventures do not necessarily exclude Kim Clijsters from picking up a tennis racket, as is now evident. Only at the weekend did the 39-year-old appear at an exhibition event - and caused a big surprise there. Against Leylah Fernandez, after all the current number 40 in the WTA world rankings, Clijsters showed much more than a bare performance record, no, the Belgian even forced Fernandez to his knees 7: 5 in the match played in one set.
Incidentally, the game in Orlando was played in a mixed team format, Fernandez alongside Jack Sock, Clijsters together with the American Sam Querry. And the Belgian's success over Fernandez should also remain the point of honor for the duo in the USA, both the men's singles and the mixed doubles went to Jack Sock and Leylah Fernandez, who should have the upper hand. But: the biggest surprise was undoubtedly Kim Clijsters.
After her surprise return to the WTA Tour in February 2020, Clijsters has played five matches on the tour, losing all of them. The former world number one had previously given up the racket in 2012, after a surprising second-round exit at the US Open. In the tournament that the 39-year-old won three times, Clijsters triumphed four times at Grand Slam level.