Former World Number 1, Kim Clijsters is set to return to the WTA Tour in 2020, after retiring in 2012.
The 36-year-old Belgian, who retired after the US Open is a mother of three and had to deal with a lot of hesitations before deciding to announce her return, though she still have uncertainties on how to balance family and tennis life.
“Over the years I sometimes played with the idea but then I was like, No this is impossible,My life is here at home now and with the three kids, my youngest needs me the most. I couldn’t see that being a part of my life.”
Four-time major champion said: “I don’t really feel like I want to prove something, I think for me it’s the challenge. I have friends who would say, I want to run the New York Marathon before I turn 50. For me, I still love to play tennis… I want to challenge myself and I want to be strong again. This is my marathon. This is where I’m saying OK, let’s try this.”
The 36-year-old Belgian won four Grand Slam titles before stepping back from tennis to give birth to her son Jack Leon Lynch says her focus has been on fitness over tennis.
“I love the challenge, I like to push myself, I’m surprised how, at times when I’m going through a rough practice, how easy it is for me to stick with it and to fight through it and to push through it. It’s a very satisfying feeling to have that kind of challenge again.”
Clijsters said the biggest concern surrounding her comeback is the effect on her three children, Jada (11), Jack (5), and Blake (2).
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