Australian Open - Clijsters to quit in two years
Winning the Australian Open has not tempted Kim Clijsters to prolong her career and the popular Belgian is adamant she will hang up her rackets for good in two years.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable run since returning to the tour in 2009 following a 2-1/2 year maternity break. Clijsters has since proved an almost unstoppable force at the majors, winning three of her four Grand Slam titles after the birth of her daughter Jada.
While many now hold her up as a torchbearer for working mothers -- at the 2009 US Open she became the first mum to win a Grand Slam for almost three decades -- Clijsters said she has worked out her retirement date cased on family commitments.
"It's a lifestyle that we chose and it's not going to be for another 10 years, maximum two years," the bubbly Belgian told Reuters TV as she prepared for Belgium's first-round Fed Cup tie against the United States.
"That's why we tried to enjoy a lot of the things as well and Jada is a good kid, she likes to travel and she enjoys just being in different part of the world. She really takes it all in now, she is at a good age, she really learns a lot."
While most players stick to a rigid timetable of playing matches, training, practising and getting massages during tournaments, Clijsters has adopted a more unconventional schedule.
With Jada in tow, she has fitted in trips to the zoo, strolls through the park and rides on horse-drawn carriages around her matches.
It is a formula that has proved successful for a player who was once accused of being an undeserving world number one because she reached the pinnacle of the sport before winning a Grand Slam.
While Clijsters now stands on the cusp of regaining that top ranking, the three-times US Open champion insists that family life remains her number one priority.
"There are days I find it hard and I almost feel guilty towards my daughter and towards my husband but you know at the end of the day I am lucky because I still see everybody every day," said Clijsters.
"Other mothers have to work too and they have to bring their children to family members or to day care or anything like that."
She also does not want her daughter, who turns three later this month, to lead an unsettled life for much longer.
"I am getting a little bit older now too and Jada is going to start having to go to school as well so there is a lot of things in my personal life that to me are a lot more important than being on the road and playing tennis.
"So that's why... I could stop today if they told me to so for me it's not like I have to play tennis every day."
Comment 44 - 63 of 63
hello good morrning vry vrty good u
Con, i am with you. Especially ur comment #31. Thats what exactly i was thinking when i read all this story about Kim's interview on the subject, she is so wise! May be not the best and strongest but the smartest and professsionally deep if i may say so - surely. For me.
Ive honestly had enough with this. What is it with these women tennis players. They're all retiring from tennis and keep talking about raising a family or that they have other commitments and other interests. i dont like womens tennis anymore. This is the second time clijsters is retiring in 5 years, sharapova is who knows(just making money off endorsements and pursuing her interests) henin retired again, serena and venus williams only compete in grand slams. I dont think they realise how lucky they are to be in this position and how little time they actually have left in their professional careers. It gives me the impression that they are big headed and disrespectful to other players efforts
Smokie mate
I never resort to name calling
I firmly believe Serena Williams is GOAT. No wozi, No Clijsters Period!
I told you Ignore that clone RACIST Yamasar
He hates black people
I dont
.....and you and I know that I never resort to calling you names. That is your trade mark move that I despise.
Con Avraam
I guess all you have to do is use your common sense when you read my comments. It will only work when you try it. Trust me, you will not get any explanations from me thereafter.
Avraam Con
the only thing you got is your hand on your genitals mate.
If you are as you say the real con what is Cypriot word for Dumb A$$!
Smoke
I don't need you to explain anything to me.
That is the point you are not getting!
Special forums are for SPECIAL people like you!
And you can stick you sarcasm mate.
You always resort to calling people names when you run out of argument.
kimoerbest
keep dreaming mate!
Oh look, fake CON aka Yamas.ARSE got no life
He's posting here day and night 24*4 irrespective of timezone.
Did you honestly think that you would fool us with your slanted pic and dumb/moronic comments huh fake CON?
Not the sharpest tool in the box are you mate?
Don't pay much attention to that loser Smokie
I'm very happy with my live coz I have a beautiful Russian wife and a cat. Period
Con Avraam
No disrespect but I think you need to be in a SPECIAL forum. What kind?
Con Avraam
Once again I keep finding myself going the extra length trying to explain a plain point that you just can’t get. Of course Clijsters never mentioned injuries or physical condition being a factor and Henin didn't either when she came out of retirement but now she's retired for good 'cause of it. She never counted on that happening and she could've made the same announcement Clijsters just made right after being a runner-up at The Aussie Open last year.
Con Avraam, I shouldn't be explaining things to you like you're a little baby. That would be literally feeding you "point[s] made" into your mouth with a teaspoon for you to finally understand.
I think it is silly of Clijsters to start quit start quit. It just shows that she just had to get back cause of the money. And CON you are so @#$% annoying with all your comments. You are on every @#$% article on eurosport, just retire ok? you @#$%!!
Hello Yamasar/Avraam Con or whatever other alias you want to adopt.
Gave yourself away there didn't you you Dumb Shyt!
Smokie
Ignore my clone that dimwit Yamasar below mate
Although I support Wozniacki and Kim whole heartedly, I must admit it though sadly that the first one doesn't deserve to be no 1
and the latter will fold up in next 2 years just like Henin.
Serena Williams is going through the same phase but I believe the champion that she is, she will bounce back and get back to her best soon.Period
Let's stop this whole debate once and for all right here and enjoy women's tennis going forward
Putting Words in your mouth,
Leading you down the wrong path......
You must be so gullible and a push-over!
Kim made absolutely no mention of her body or her physical conditioning being a factor for her decision.
Why don't you read her comments again and stop putting words in her mouth and trying to lead us all astray mate.
And how did Henin's arm injury which caused her decision to retire come into this debate?
Her body had nothing to do with her retirement.
She fell on her arm and cause ligament injuries.
Why don't you mention Serena's foot injury and her pending retirement while you are at it?
Or do you believe it's her body telling her to stop instead of the injury sustained from stepping on broken glass?
I can see why Venus would consider retirement but Kim??????
It is a personal LIFE CHOICE she is making, at a point when she is at her highest peak!!!!!.
Read her comments again and try to understand the print.
But maybe this is all pointless since you are stuck on the same mental block!
Con Avraam
We can do this all day but it's taking a different route which I will not let you take me to. The bottom line is that I shouldn't be explaining to you a simple figure of speech everyone seemed to understand but you. You took it literally thereby looking for futile and senseless debate.
I made my point clear. Kim Clijsters is thinking about playing up to two years or even less. Her body might have another suggeston. Henin new found love and motivation lured her out of retirement and her come back couldn't have looked any better when she was a runner-up at 2010 Aussie Open. At the end her body was speaking a dfferent language. This is something Clijsters should be looking out for. Venus is right in the middle of it with injuries here and there.
Totally didn't get your point and I'd hate to respond in case I MIS-INTERPRETE something you said.
I'll just carry on with my daily activities.
Con Avraam
Elavate my comments to Bobito' s standard?? That's a good one. What he should do is bring his standard down so you can understand it 'cause you seem to have trouble quoting him right. I'm not making this up to look good here. It is a fact.
I think for your sake I'll leave my comment standard right where it is. The headline says "Clijsters to quit tennis in 2 yrs". Let me guess, you want Eurosports to raise their standard of using correct headlines for an article?
All I'm asking is to stop misquoting people. You are skater than that.
Zack Speed, Chemical Ali and ME
must all be dummies then if we can't understand YOUR simple comments.
Chem Ali reverted to Italian because you SIMPLY are having trouble understanding what 'MAXIMUM 2 YEARS" means. Would you like me to explain it to you in Greek or Russian instead?
And why is it that every time someone scrutinizes your comments you provide the same lame response
" putting words in your mouth yet again?
You say you did not take my comments personal??????
Then why are you defending yourself and trying to draft up some credibility by comparing your comments to those of Bobito???
So please do avoid elevating your comments to Bobito's standards.
It's like comparing Oranges to Lemons.
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