Clijsters announces return to WTA tour

Former world number one Kim Clijsters will come out of retirement to play on the tour during the US hardcourt season later this year, the Belgian said yesterday. "I have missed playing tournaments most. I am doing it for the challenge. I have been...

Former world number one Kim Clijsters will come out of retirement to play on the tour during the US hardcourt season later this year, the Belgian said yesterday.

"I have missed playing tournaments most. I am doing it for the challenge. I have been training for 11 or 12 weeks. Training harder than ever before. Then this drive came back," Clijsters told a news conference at her home town of Bree.

The 25-year-old retired in May 2007 before marrying basketball player Brian Lynch and giving birth to a daughter. She has been training at the tennis centre in Bree, north of Brussels in recent weeks.

"I have asked for wildcards for Cincinnati, Toronto and US Open, that's all for the moment. I want to see if I can still do it," the 2005 US Open champion said.

According to her plans, Clijsters will make her comeback in the Cincinnati Open which begins on August 10 and continue her build-up for Flushing Meadows the following week in the Toronto Cup.

US Open organisers have already said they would grant her a wildcard for the final grand slam of the season.

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