Former world No.1 Kim Clijsters of Belgium announced her return to competitive tennis yesterday, almost two years after retiring from the sport at just 23 years old.
“I intend to play in the US Open and, almost certainly, in the tournaments at Cincinnati [early August] — my first official tournament back — and Toronto,” she told a press conference in her hometown. “I have been practicing on a regular basis with my training partner Wim Fissette and my physical coach Sam Verslegers, sometimes as much as six hours a day. The desire is back.”
The right-hander, famous for her trademark splits defensive play, won 34 WTA tournaments and 11 doubles’ crowns, including the 2005 US Open title when she defeated French player Mary Pierce 6-3, 6-1 at Flushing Meadows.
She also won the 2002 and 2003 women’s season-ending tour championship title.
Clijsters lost four Grand Slam finals, notably the 2003 French Open and US Open championship matches, as well as the 2004 Australian Open to compatriot and rival Justine Henin, who has also since retired.
She reached the top of the world rankings in August 2003 and had a record of 427 wins against 104 defeats, as well as having the rare distinction of holding the No. 1 spot in both singles and doubles in 2003. But sidelined by a succession of injuries and eager to start a family with new husband Brian Lynch, an US basketball player, she abruptly announced her retirement in May 2007 at just 23 years old.
Clijsters married Lynch in 2007 and the couple celebrated the birth of their daughter Jade Elie in February last year.
The popular Belgian has been competing in a number of exhibition events in recent months and is also set to play at an exhibition tournament this summer at Wimbledon, along with Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and Tim Henman.
Since the shock retirement of Henin a year ago, the top spot in women’s tennis has been up for grabs, with Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and currently Serena Williams successively filling the spot.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and