Kim Clijsters wants to come back – but the fates are conspiring

Remember when Kim Clijsters, then 36, announced that she would be returning for a third go-round on the WTA Tour?

People were pretty pumped about this – Clijsters, even in retirement, remains a beloved figure in the game.

But notwithstanding the fact that the time seems to be flying during this pandemic, that original announcement was a year and a half ago already.

Here’s what she said in a press release at the time:

“While there is a lot of work ahead of me in the next four months, my biggest motivation is the personal challenge involved – both physically and mentally, I want to test myself again. At 36 years old I feel like I’m too young to be retired and, with so many inspirational athletes and moms competing, I can’t wait to get back on the match court and see what’s possible after having three children.”

Kim Clijsters returning for a third set

There was going to be a camera crew following her for some sort of documentary. She was back training.

But ever since, it’s been obstacle after obstacle.

And on Sunday, with wild cards at the Miami Open and in Charleston already secured, and turning 38 in a few months, Clijsters announced yet another roadblock.

pic.twitter.com/8kinHFNTCl— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) March 14, 2021

Down Under comeback postponed

The original, aspirational plan was for Clijsters to return at the 2020 Australian Open.

But she wasn’t ready. Along the way, as she ramped up the training, a knee injury that required rehab pushed back the date.

It was characterized as a “a severe tear in her right MCL during a game of padel” – a grade 2-3 sprain.

So then, it was March – with wild cards into Monterrey, Indian Wells and Charleston.

But in a surprise, Clijsters ended up returning slightly earlier – at the 2020 edition of the Dubai tournament won by No. 9 seed Garbiñe Muguruza on Saturday. Clijsters played … No. 9 seed Muguruza. She lost 6-2, 7-6 but looked competitive in the second set.

It was not, by any stretch, a lucky draw.

Then off to Monterrey, where she got another tough draw. Johanna Konta, the No. 2 seed, beat her 6-3, 7-5.

*Former Tour player turned coach Alex Bogomolov gives Clijsters the thumbs up when he spots her on the player field at Indian Wells in March 2020.*

The next stop was Indian Wells, where all of tennis was gathered and she got smiles and well-wishes wherever she went.

She was absolutely smacking the ball.

And then, the pandemic hit.

Indian Wells was cancelled. The whole spring and summer were cancelled.

Team Tennis injury scuttles Clijster restart

Clijsters signed on for World Team Tennis in July, to get some match play in.

It went well – until an abdominal injury not only scuttled the season, but forced her to withdraw from the “Cincinnati” event in the US Open bubble.

Kim Clijsters pulls out of “Cincy”

Clijsters made it back for the US Open. But she lost in the first round to Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Again, not exactly a lucky draw. Had she played Cincinnati, she would have had to take on Jennifer Brady.

Wild card for Melbourne in 2021

Clijsters didn’t play for the rest of the 2020 season.

And then, given another wild card into the Australian Open in February, she gave it back.

Now we know why.

The surgery on the right knee she had injured nearly a year prior – and then, Clijsters caught the coronavirus in January.

She said in her note that it disrupted her training schedule and even though she’s back training, she’s not ready.

And so, wild cards for the Miami Open and Charleston will not be used.

Clijsters said she’s disappointed and frustrated, but she’s not going to quit.

Looking forward to getting back on the match court. Thank @MiamiOpen & @VolvoCarOpen – see you soon. pic.twitter.com/F3DHFCwed7

— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) March 3, 2021