Kim Clijsters will end her seven and a half year absence from tennis after accepting a wildcard to the WTA tournament in Dubai.
The Belgian last played a competitive singles match at the US Open in 2012, when she lost to Laura Robson in the second round, but will make her return after accepting a wildcard to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
After delaying her return due to injury, Klijsters has been practicing hard since then including at the site of Belgium’s Fed Cup tie against Kazakhstan.
Now Clijsters has confirmed accepting a wildcard into the Dubai tournament which begins on the 17th of February, “Since announcing my return there have been a few bumps,” Clijsters admitted in her statement on Twitter.
“But looking forward to returning to the match court and what the next chapter brings… Thanks to all my fans for their encouragement these past weeks. See you in Dubai!”
Although Clijsters is looking forward to her return in the UAE, there will be some stiff competition at the WTA Premier-level event which includes Karolina Pliskova, US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, Wimbledon champion Simona Halep and Belinda Bencic.
CEO of Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin expressed his delight at Clijsters’ return, “We are delighted to welcome such a great champion here for the first time and are thrilled that Kim Clijsters has chosen to include Dubai in her limited schedule as she seeks to continue her wonderful career,” he told The National.
“She is truly one of the greatest players to have graced the game, and she excelled in the often difficult challenge of being not only one of the game’s strongest competitors but also being universally loved and respected by her peers. We wish her every success here.”
Clijsters will begin her campaign most likely on Monday the 17th of February and Tuesday the 18th of February.
