Clijsters praised as a role model

Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams led a torrent of praise for Kim Clijsters as the three-time US Open champion prepared for the final tournament of her storied career.

Clijsters is chasing a fairytale ending at Flushing Meadows before retiring at the age of 29. She first retired in 2007 but returned two years later to become the first wildcard to win the US Open and the first mother to win a major championship since Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

“What’s there to say about Kim?” Sharapova said.

“There’s so many great things besides the fact she’s been an incredible tennis player and champion. She’s someone that went away from the sport to commit herself to being a mother and a good wife and then coming back and being a professional and winning a few more grand slams.

“She was always so focused and determined. One of the best athletes the game saw in women’s tennis,” Sharapova said.

“And just a really great person, very humble. At the end of the day, just a down-to-earth person that reflected on life in a very good way.”

Venus Williams said Clijsters’s successful return to the tour in 2009 fuelled hope that her own recovery from an auto-immune disease was possible.

“Kim has had a resurgence like no other, coming back to win two majors,” Williams said.

“I think she’s inspiration for everyone who has said if you put your mind to it, if you have a dream, you can do whatever you want.”

Top seed Victoria Azarenka described Clijsters as the ideal role model.

“For the kids she’s one of the people who you always like to be around,” she said.

“Obviously a lot of people love her. She’s definitely one everybody is going to miss.”