’’She’s the queen of the court
She plays it right from the heart
Her name is killing Kim
She fights to win..’’
Posted by a fan
Kim Clijsters was named the comeback player of the year 2005 along with the WTA Player of the Year (2005)..She rose from the rank 134 to 2nd last year and 1st early this year..Clijsters became the first tennis player (man or woman) ever to rise from outside the Top 100 (No. 134) to No. 1 in less than year.
Kim Clijsters has won 30 carrier titles so far and one among those titles were WTA tour championships which featured all the top 8 ranked women in the world and the other was the year ending US open..She reached the Australina open semifinals the next year (2006) against Mauresmo but she had to withdraw due to Right ankle injury.
Full Name: Kim Clijsters
Birthdate : June 8, 1983
Nationality : Belgium
Plays : Right-handed, two-handed backhand
Status : Turned pro in 1998 at the age of 15
Titles : 30
Career Prize Money : $2, 263, 628
Kim Clijsters-The Player
The Belgian, X-Hewitt girlfriend, hasn’t had overnight success, but from the first day she placed her hands on a tennis racket it seems that she was bound for it.
Clijsters first picked up a racket when she was 5 and started persuing it as a hobby.She later realised that she was really good at this hobby..That was when she realized she wanted to play tennis...She hasn’t looked back since then..
Her Father Lie Clijsters was a professional football player..With Lei Clijsters’ incredible soccer career, the young Belgian never had trouble finding the money for coaching, traveling, and what not.
With great forehand and perfect push with the backhand she is a player who has the ability to beat the best.Maria Sharapova once commented that Clijsters always makes you to ’’hit that extra shot.’’
She smacks her groundstrokes with authority and defends as if her life depended on it. In response to critics’ complaints that she is ’’Too Nice’’ to her opponents, she famously replied, ’’You don’t have to hate your opponent to beat them.’’
It seems that she has inherited the athletic qualities from her father Lie..Whenever I watch her matches I am just intrigued about her ’’You place the ball anywhere in the court and I shall meet it there’’ attitude..This quality is not often found in women Tennis players..
One of her trademark movement on the court that makes a Clijsters match so enjoyable to watch are her split squash shots...Sliding..sliding..Sliding..and still sliding..The court looks like a ice skating place and she is like the female ice skater...This shot was used frequently by hen during the comeback year 2005..Maybe it was because of this shot that she is prone to more injuries than the others..
Kim Clijsters’ first important breakthrough was in the year 2002 when she defeated Serena Williams WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles although many considered that she had the ability to be a great player in 2001 when she reached the finals in 2001 French Open...
Kim Clijsters had the most successful season during the year 2003 and 2005 winning 9 titles and 9 singles events respectively and ending as no.2 world on both the occasions..She was No. 1 for several weeks but ended the year 2003 as No.2 when compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne overtook her..Later in Australian open 2006 she became rank No.1 and then slipped to No. 2 after the shock defeat against Craybas in Miami..
Kim Clijsters and Injuries
2006 is seeing her injury troubles once again - after her withdrawal from the Australian open Semi Finals against Mauresemo and the shock defeat against Craybas in Miami..
It is ironical that she had faced similar problem during the 2004 Australian Open after some great display during 2003 and now after a great display in 2005 she is facing an ankle injury..
Quote..’’Great athletes don’t know when to quit. That is their reputation, and they have demonstrated over and over that they largely deserve it.’’
Kim Clijsters is one among those athletes who is known for the never-quit attitude..So it’s no surprise that much has been made of Kim Clijsters’ declared intention to retire after next season, when she will be 24.
Kim clijsters has given indication of retiring from tennis..’’I think I will stop at the end of 2007. My body is already giving me a lot of problems’’, Clijsters said..During her seemingly fairy tale of a tenure as a professional tennis player she has had several injuries including a career-threatening wrist injury which had stopped her from playing for almost one year..
What Kim Clijsters has to say
I know that I’m going to have to work hard, keep working hard, and not because of this victory think, ’’I’m back.’’ I don’t think like that. I’ll definitely work hard. Things are not going to be easy. I might lose first round next week. You never know.
Kim Clijsters after US Open-2005
I think that’s why I’m playing so well - I’m enjoying myself.
Kim Clijsters after US Open-2003
You can wake me up now - these last four weeks in America have been incredible.
Kim Clijsters after US Open-2005
You know, it doesn’t happen that often that you have the crowd support behind you straightaway from the beginning of the match.
Kim Clijsters After Australian Open-2006
’’You don’t get it back straightaway. Matches are what I’m definitely lacking.’’
Kim Clijsters after the upset against Craybas in Miami-2006
I hope that she gets the required matches sooner rather than later..And request to Kim Clijsters ’’please do not retire’’...
PS: It was sad that I had to request to write a review on the world no.2 player..It is more sad that Kim Clijsters does not get the required attention, not only here, when she is a better player than almost all the others