Kim is back for him Former No. 1 Clijsters says hubby Brian Lynch encouraged comeback; Belgian faces Muguruza in Round 1 Dubai Championships Dubai: Four- time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters revealed on Sunday that a persistent inner feeling and advice from her husband served as the key to her WTA return at the Dubai Championships.
u201c It was a feeling that I had inside, a feeling that I had inside for a little while,u201d Clijsters, 36, mother- of- three said. u201c Once in a while that feeling would go away when I was home with the [ three] kids. A couple of times it would come back. It got stronger and stronger.u201d The Belgian has been handed a tough first round assignment against last monthu2019s Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza for her first match since the 2012 US Open on Monday.
Clijsters retired initially in 2007 to marry Brian Lynch and have her first child, returned in 2009 winning three of her four titles at the Majors. u201c I talked to my husband. He was like, u2018 stop worrying about why and ask yourself why not.u2019 u201c He made a very good point. I was like, u2018 There is no u2018 why notu2019. Why wouldnu2019t I do it?u201d Clijsters, playing as a wild card entry at her debut in the emirate, added: u201c Iu2019ve enjoyed the challenge since the day Iu2019ve decided to go for it. Itu2019s been with ups and downs. Being 36, you know thatu2019s how itu2019s been for your whole career. Itu2019s how you mentally stay through it, how strong you stay through those kind of situations.u201d Clijsters had originally planned to return for the Australian Open last month, but the date was put back due to an elbow injury.
u201c When things donu2019t go well, thatu2019s obviously when you have to be committed and focused.
Iu2019ve been doing that. Itu2019s been an interesting but very challenging process that Iu2019m really enjoying,u201d said the winner of 41 singles titles.
Simona Halep takes the top Dubai seeding, with Czech Karolina Pliskova on second, Elina Svitolina, Belinda Bencic fourth and Sofia Kenin of the United States fifth.
AFP Kim Clijsters during a training session in Belgium recently.
pic/ Getty Images Brian Lynch
