Kim Clijsters Defies Odds With U.S. Open Bid
 Ray Stubblebine/Reuters/Landov |
Moms — and tennis fans — take note! Although it has been 29 years since a Grand Slam event was won by a mother, Kim Clijsters is making a strong case that she will do just that at this week’s U.S. Open.
The 26-year-old former World No. 1 only recently returned to the sport after walking away in 2007 following a series of injuries and the birth of her daughter Jada Ellie, 18 months; Whatever rust she might have been feeling didn’t show, however, as she knocked off No. 3 seed Venus Williams last weekend. Next up is a quarterfinal match today against No. 18 Li Na, with a win guaranteeing her a spot in the semifinals. “I’m just happy that we have a family and I can balance both,” Kim said after the big upset on Sunday.
“I only just started watching tennis at the start of this year, to be honest. I didn’t really have that much time with a baby running around, and I was happy just to sleep when she was sleeping.”
For her part, Jada remains thoroughly unimpressed with mom’s inspired run at Flushing Meadows. “She knows that her mother plays tennis and that she says, ‘Uh,’” Kim’s husband Brian Lynch jokes. The 31-year-old former professional basketball player — who walked away from a European basketball contract to become a stay-at-home dad — says he understands the attention, however. “I think so many people can relate,” he explains. “How many women in the world have a child and try to make it work with their career?” Brian adds,
“I wouldn’t have stopped playing myself if I didn’t know she was serious about this. It’s a unique dynamic, with a husband and a daughter on the road with her. We can’t look too far down the road.”
One thing is for certain: The couple won’t be caught looking back, either. When asked Sunday whether she now regrets her premature retirement, Kim replied with a definitive no. “I’m glad I made that choice,” she said, “because a lot of beautiful things came out of it.”
Sources: AP, New York Times, Newsday
- Posted on Sep 8, 09 at 12:00PM
- Permalink
- 6 Comments
September 8th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I can’t believe she came back and is doing so well. I’m getting ready to watch the match now, good luck Kim!!!
September 8th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Wow. I’m so impressed. Not just by how well Kim is doing in the tennis world, but by the choices she and her husband made to raise their daughter.
They both put their careers on hold so that they could be home with her when she needed them.
It would have been so easy for them to hire a full time nanny to take care of Jada, or put her in daycare, but they didn’t.
September 8th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
I am suprised that there is not one single mention in the above text, that Kim Clijsters is from Belgium.
I am from Belgium and it would be nice to read, that one of the very few mentions of celebrities from my country, would actually be aknowledged their origin. I don’t think many here know her and even less know that she’s from Belgium. Just sayin’..
Ok, maybe it’s not that important..
September 9th, 2009 at 4:33 am
To j.U.d.E.
I’m from Belgium too and let me tell you that I visit this website everyday. They KNOW that Kim’s from Belgium. They’ve posted many articles about her and they’ve mentioned many times that she’s from Belgium. So they don’t have to do it always. Be glad that they show intrest in our Kim!
Anyway,…Kim’s back and she’s doin’ great as always. Love her!!
September 12th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
There should be an update article on this. Clijsters has just continued her fairy tale run into the finals.
September 14th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
she won.. a gemini !!
her daughter Jada is SUPER SUPER SUPER cute!!!! Bet her daughter’s angelic presence helped her keep her cool..