Kim Clijsters – it couldn’t happen… could it?

Written by: Staff on 28th June 2012

Kim Clijsters – it couldn’t happen… could it?

epa03284275 Kim Clijsters of Belgium returns to Andrea Hlavackova of Czech Republic during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 27 June 2012. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY |

Jelena Jankovic – without a hitch

Andrea Hlavackova – turned over.

Vera Zvonerena – a rabbit in the headlights…?

Kim Clijsters, the former simultaneous singles and doubles number 1, who retired from professional tennis due to injury in 2007, is in the third round at Wimbledon. And boy, is she looking good.

No, she’s not as graceful or mobile as some of the young Russians and Eastern Europeans who shriek and howl around the court, but court coverage was never her thing. Kim was always one to let her wrists and shoulders do the talking. And what is very evident watching her at Wimbledon this year is that the power is most definitely there in abundance.

The way that Clijsters dispatched Jankovic was very impressive to say the least, dropping only 6 games in a straight sets victory. Let’s not forget that Jelena was seeded 18^th, and also was the player to inflict defeat upon Clijsters’ “second career” following that 2 year hiatus from 2007-2009, so it was a great moment for Kim.

Of course she’s already won a major trophy since her return, in fact she’s won three – The US Open in 2009 and 2010, and the Aussie Open in 2011. But she’s never won Wimbledon, two semi-finals appearances in 2003 and 2006 are her best efforts to date.

Already the comeback queen of tennis, can she win the one slam that has so far eluded her in the Jubilee year? If she did, Kim would be the lowest ranked Ladies winner ever – and the first non-seed in the history of the Championships. That would be a truly fantastic story.

Topics: Andrea Hlavackova, Jelena Jankovic, Kim Clijsters, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Vera Zvonerena, Wimbledon 2012