Tennis news: US Open 2010 champ Kim Clijsters shares about her professional career
After capturing her second United States Open trophy in a row and third overall, the Belgian tennis ace Kim Clijsters, is now looking to make her breakthrough at other major events.
All of the Clijster’s three Grand Slam titles have come at the Flushing Meadows in New York, so there is still off course a lot to achieve.
“All of them motivate me in different manners,” said Kim of the other major titles after winning once again in New York on Saturday night, defeating her Russian tennis foe, Vera Zvonareva in straight sets.
The year’s first major event, the Australian Open tennis tournament which is also contested on the hard court like the U.S Open, is another Grand Slam competition where she strongly thinks that she can play better. The Belgian also feels a connection to the grass court Grand Slam tournament, as her late father used to thoroughly enjoy his time there. Moreover, the clay court French Open also seems like home, as a couple of Belgians have previously reached the later stages of that championship.
Her favourite court is clay without any question. She has managed to make her way into the final of the French Open on two occasions so far in her career.
Clijsters after winning the year’s final major said, “This will help me a great deal in playing even more confidently at other major events, and I will try my level best to continue my form and game when I will participate in the Australian Open next year.”
If the Belgian manages to remain fit, she will have at least two more opportunities to triumph other major events for sure. Clijsters, after the victory, while talking about her future plans said that she wants to contest at the Olympic Games, which are going to be held in London in 2012; however she doesn’t visualize herself playing longer than that on the tour.
Kim had never previously managed to successfully defend her crown until this year in New York.
“It is a totally different feeling, and I am really on top of the world beyond any measure of speculations,” Kim said after sweeping Vera in the title battle on Sunday.
The Belgian recalled that she watched the U.S Open back in 2006 from home, since she was out as a result of her wrist injury. She captured her very first major title in New York back in 2005, however couldn’t manage to defend it due to couple of injuries.
The 27-year-old Kim announced her retirement from the professional game of tennis back in 2007, as she decided to give full time to her family and home. However, her love for the sport once again forced the Belgian to make a comeback on the tour after two years. And since her return to the sport, Kim has proved that both family as well as professional life can be handled at the same time. The world number five limits her schedule to make sure that she gives proper time to her two and a half year old daughter Jada.
In her year back on the professional game of tennis, Kim has had to learn to expect that she may find it extremely hard in the first championship back after a two years break. It is natural, as players require a lot of time to get back in form and start playing at their very best.
Clijsters, while commenting on her come back struggle, said that it was really hard for her to manage the pressure, frustration along with her family life. However, she is glad that she stood strong and didn’t give up, and here she is with another Grand Slam victory in New York.
The Belgian recalled that back in March this season she lost at the Indian Wells, then triumphed in her following championship at Miami.
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