The former world number one and four-time major champion, Kim Clijsters, is returning to professional tennis in 2020. At 36 years old, this represents her second major comeback after having retired from the sport back in 2012.
A Hall of Fame athlete and former top-ranked player, Clijsters announced her intention to rejoin the professional tour in 2020, though her exact tournament schedule remains undecided. She noted that her current focus is purely on the hard work required to compete at the highest level. According to Clijsters, the goal is to gradually push her limits—hoping eventually to reach the second week of a Grand Slam—provided she feels her performance is improving.
However, she admitted that setting specific goals like reaching a Grand Slam quarterfinal feels unrealistic right now, as she is focused on the long road of preparation ahead. Clijsters first turned pro in 1997 and claimed her first U.S. Open title in 2005. She surprisingly retired at age 23 in 2007 to marry Brian Lynch. Two years later, after becoming a mother, she returned to the sport and won the 2009 U.S. Open, becoming the first mother to win a Grand Slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong in 1980.
Known for her incredible agility and baseline play, the Belgian star went on to win another U.S. Open in 2010 and the Australian Open in 2011, reclaiming the world number one spot. After starting a family and having three children, she retired for the final time in 2012 and transitioned into a career as a television commentator.