Kim Clijsters Impresses, But Falls To Muguruza In Dubai Comeback

Kim Clijsters’ eagerly anticipated return to tennis has started in defeat after she was edged out of the Dubai Tennis Championships by eighth seed Garbine Muguruza in straight sets.

The 36-year-old Belgian took to the courts of the Aviation Club Tennis Centre on Monday to play her first competitive match since the 2012 US Open. The tournament where her Spanish rival made her main draw grand slam debut. Clijsters showed glimmers of the play that has guided her to 41 WTA titles, but the inevitable rustiness was a factor throughout her 6-3, 7-6(6), loss. Meanwhile, Australian Open runner-up Muguruza remained mainly calm and focused on the court as she closed out the victory after 97 minutes of play.

“I’m very happy. It was a special match.” Muguruza said during her on-court interview.
“You know, she’s (Clijsters) come back (to the tour) and she is an incredible player. I didn’t know how it was going to go, but I’m happy to be the one to face her and I think she is going to give (players on the WTA Tour) a hard time.”

Inevitably nerves would be a factor for Clijsters, who announced her intention to return to the tour last year. Dropping her opening service game, she found herself fighting hard to keep in contention with Muguruza. The most problematic issue for Clijsters during the opener was her second serve as she only managed to win three out of nine points played. Then in the seventh game she went down a double break before losing the opening set.

With Muguruza gaining in momentum and racing to a 3-0 lead in the second frame, it appeared as if Clijsters’ Dubai debut would be short lived. However, she refused to go down without a fight. Capitalising on some nervous shot-making coming from across the court, the four-time grand slam champion retrieved one of her lost breaks to narrow the deficit to 3-2. Three games later Clijsters drew level at 4-4 with the help of two consecutive Muguruza unforced errors. Triggering an almighty cheer from the crowd.

With both players hitting powerful shots and engaging in numerous baseline rallies, Muguruza managed to come out on top during a roller-coaster tiebreaker. Both had their opportunities with each dropping serve three times. The world No.16 failed to convert her first match point at 6-5 after hitting a forehand long, but prevailed on her second. Firing a deep serve that Clijsters was unable to return.

“I think she was very good.” Muguruza said of her opponent. “A player who has played incredible can play incredible again. So I was expecting that it was going to be hard.”
“I was just trying to stay calm, play my game and hoped that it was going to go my way.” She added.

Officially kicking-off her return to tennis, Clijsters will be shortly travelling to Mexico, where she will be playing in the Monterrey Open. Whilst she didn’t win in Dubai, the high standard of tennis illustrated by a player who has been absent for almost eight years is a solid indication that she means business.

As for Muguruza, she will play either Dayana Yastremska or Veronika Kudermetova in the next round.

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