TennisToday

Kim Clijsters Moves into Retirement After 2nd Round Loss at the US Open

US Open - Women's 2nd Round

Laura Robson d 23 Kim Clijsters - 76(4) 76(5)

And with that we've lost Kimmy for the second (and last) time.

Post match: Since I came back it's been a great adventure for me,

my team and my family, and it has all been worth it,

but I'm excited for the next part of my life.

On a personal note, Kimmy was my favorite women's player.

I was lucky enough to watch her play a couple of times.

The first was in '03 - a Qf win on Lenglen at Roland Garros.

The second was later that summer defeating Sharapova in Los Angeles.

I also got close to her several times on the practice courts at Indian Wells.

In those encounters she was always so generous with her fans.

Kimmy is beloved and will be greatly missed. But what a career...

4 Slams (3 US Opens; 1 Aussie), 41 WTA titles including 3 year-end titles.

She was also ranked #1 in singles (for 20 weeks) and doubles.

So long Kimmy, it was a pleasure enjoying you career with you.

See you in 5 years when you are inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Kim Clijsters into 3rd Round at Olympics

Olympics - Women's Second Round

Kim Clijsters d Carla Suarez Navarro - 63 63

Remember, Kim only has a few more matches on tour before she's gone.

For good.

On her way out she's looking for an Olympic medal & a 4th US Open title.

Last week Kim had a cool observation about playing the Games:

You kind of feel like you are going on a school trip...

When we took the train & we were all dressed the same & had our backpacks.

It was fun and it was exciting, having been on tour for 15 years...

To have a new experience.

I look forward to just getting to feel what the Olympic atmosphere is like.

I am not really thinking about retirement until I have come to that.

I am still here because I want to do well and I want to play good tennis.

Kim Clijsters Plays Last Match at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Fourth Round

8 Angelique Kerber d Kim Clijsters - 61 61

Awe. Such a meek way to go out.

Kim finishes her Wimby career with a W/L of 29-9.

This is the only Slam that she failed to make the final.

She was a Sf-ist twice: '03 & '06 losing to Venus Williams & Justine Henin.

Kim is a Wimbledon champ - she won the doubles in '03 with Ai Sugiyama.

She will play on the Wimby lawns again in a couple weeks at the Olympics.

Get some rest Kimmy - Belgium wants a medal.

Photo: Getty Images

Kim Clijsters Pulls Out of Entire Clay Court Season

Those ankle and hip injuries are just too slow in healing.

So no last run for a title at Roland Garros for the 2-time finalist.

Instead she is focusing on the grass.

Kim is still hopeful for a nice lengthy stay in London.

She wants to be healthy enough to play Wimbledon and the Olympics.

I wouldn't expect to see her in North America later this summer.

The photo is her Twitter profile pic - of happy family times.

Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams Make Winning Returns to WTA Tour at Miami

WTA Miami - First Round

WC Venus Williams d Kimiko Date Krumm - 60 63

Kim Clijsters d Jarmila Gajdosova - 46 61 60

Both ladies won their first matches returning from long injury layoffs.

Venus was solid from the jump but Kim needed to shake some rust.

Venus did not play here last year - Kim lost in the Qf's.

Both are former champions: Venus in '98, '99 & '01 - Kim in '05 & '10.

This is Venus' 1st tourny since the US Open & Kim's since the Aussie Open.

Welcome back ladies, you were both missed greatly.

Photos: Getty Images & Reuters

Kim Clijsters & Li Na, Last Years Finalists, Again on Collision Course at Australian Open

Australian Open - Women's Second Round

11 Kim Clijsters d Stephanie Foretz Gacon - 60 61

5 Li Na d Olivia Rogowska - 62 62

Fisrt up on Rod Laver was Li Na who lost a mere 4 games.

Next on was Kim who went even faster - a loss of 1 game in 47 minutes.

Glad I wasn't a ticket holder for Laver Arena yesterday! Anyway...

These ladies produced a 3-set thriller in the final last year - Kim prevailed.

They each must win one more match to face-off in the 4th round.

This is the last Aussie Open Kim will ever play. Guess who I'm pulling for?

Yep. Aussie Kim. All year.

Photos: Reuters & Getty Images

Women's Tennis: All the 2011 Slam Winners Crash Out in the 1st & 2nd Rounds at Their Next Slam

That's a crazy - a troubling - stat.

The latest victim came yesterday at the Australian Open...

Sam Stosur was sent off by Sorana Cirstea 76 63 in the 1st round.

Telling the truth tho Sam has never faired well in her home Slam.

She follows AO.11 champ Kim Clijsters who lost in the 2nd R at the French.

RG.11 champ Li Na in the 2nd R at Wimbledon.

And W.11 champ Petra Kvitova in the 1st R at the US Open.

Let's hope this trend curse comes to an end.

Photos: Reuters and Getty Images

Ankle Injury Forces Kim Clijsters Out of Wimbledon

Damn. Damn. Damn.

Kim pulled out of Wimbledon just after she was seeded #2.

She posted the following message for her Twitter followers:

Hey guys, bad news... No Wimbledon for me this year.

Injured my ankle during yesterday's match

I feel very upset and dissapointed...

Get well soon.

Photo: AP

Kim Clijsters Sent Home in 2nd Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Second Round

WC Arantxa Rus d 2 Kim Clijsters - 36 75 61

KIMPLOSION

Kim had 2 match points in that second set and then completely kimploded.

This marks the 1st time she has lost to someone outside the top 100.

Here's the bottom line: 65 unforced errors.

You know you've fallen apart when Rus only hit 8 winners.

Given the injury we didn't know what to expect from Kim here...

And I'm not completely in shock. (I lied, I am.)

But I will say this, prepare for Kim to make a deep run at Wimby.

Photo: AP

Kim Clijsters is Set to Return to the French Open

#2 Kim will return to the WTA tour this week at Roland Garros.

She has been sidelined with an ankle injury - missed the whole clay season.

Tough-ish quarter: 8 Sharapova,  15 Petkovic, 21 Wickmayer, 25 Kirilenko.

This also marks the 1st time she's played RG since a Sf loss in 2006.

Many insiders have picked her to win.

After all, she has won the last 2 Slams: the US & Aussie Opens.

She is a two-time runner-up at the French - in '01 (Capriati) & '03 (Henin).

It's that '01 run where we first came to know Kim - so close to winning too.

Hard to believe that was 10 years ago.

I watched that final on a tiny TV in Berlin at a friends place. Very hungover.

Do it momma.

Kim Clijsters Injures Ankle at Cousins Wedding

The minute this story broke yesterday I immediately thought: high heels. This sucks, as a Kimmie fan I was looking forward to seeing her get back to Roland Garros - she has played their since her Sf showing in '06. Remember she missed last year owing to injury as well. I suppose there is a small chance but...

From Kim's website: Kim has injured her ankle. She won't be able to compete for four to six weeks. Her participation in the French Open is no longer certain.

At the wedding party of her cousin Tim, Kim injured her ankle severely. The consequences are rather dire. After a visit to the doctor, echo and NMR the diagnosis is a severe strain of both the medial and lateral ligaments of the right ankle and a torn ligaments, a torn capsule of the ankle joint, a hematoma and torn tendon sheath.

Kim's ankle is now completely immobilised and she can not use her foot for a few days. Kim faces a recovery of at least four to six weeks. Since the French Open starts in literally six weeks, Kim's presence in Paris is very uncertain. In the meantime Kim has to continue working on her recovery of a shoulder and wrist injury.

Photo: Getty Images - of happier days.

Marion Bartoli Advances to Quarterfinals as Kim Clijsters Retires Match at WTA Indian Wells

Indian Wells WTA - Fourth Round

15 Marion Bartoli d 2 Kim Clijsters - 36 3-1 ret.

Kim retired with a shoulder injury. She had tweeted of the pain earlier.

She called the trainer for a medical TO - then played only a few more points.

Suddenly it seems defending at Miami may be in jeopardy.

And Kim will have to put that #1 ranking on the back-burner for a bit longer.

***

Marion moves into her 4th Premier Mandatory Qf: 2-1. Her 1st in IW.

She will face Ana Ivanovic - H2H: 4-2/AI. Tho in 2010 they went 2-1/MB.

About the pic: Marion offered me a sweet smile on Saturday in IW.

In return, I thanked her softly. I got the sense that she appreciated that.

Petra Kvitova Upsets Kim Clijsters to Win Paris Title

Paris WTA - Final

4 Petra Kvitova d 1 Kim Clijsters - 64 63

Petra overpowered Kim - plain and simple. She is the real deal.

Both 20: With Caroline Wozniacki they are the 2 best under 21-year-olds.

This is Petra's 3rd WTA title & 2nd of the year - already.

She is currently ranked #18 but I think that will be rising quickly.

This was her 6th win over a top 10 player & 2nd over a #1 (Safina).

Well kind of: Technically Kim doesn't become #1 until tomorrow.

As for Kim, I think it's time to get home and relax. She has played a lot.

In '11 so far she has played 3 finals (1-2) and Fed Cup. Next: Indian Wells.

No Lemon: Also this week Kim learned that Alec Baldwin has a crush on her.

Lastly: Always lovely to see you Amelie. You are missed.

Photo: Getty Images

Kim Clijsters Set to Return to #1 After Quarterfinal Win in Paris Today

Paris WTA - Quarterfinal

1 Kim Clijsters d Q Jelena Dokic - 63 60

With her blistering today win Kim will will return to #1 on Monday's rankings.

She last held the top spot almost exactly 5 years ago.

Tennis history: Kim will become the 1st mother to hold the #1 ranking.

Previously she was #1 a total of 19 weeks between 2003-06.

She is poised to extend that number greatly.

Remember, she has ZERO points to defend at Roland Garros. She didn't play.

Kim has never finished a year ranked #1 - tho she has come close...

She finished '03 & '05 ranked #2 and last year at #3.

Could this be the year? I wouldn't bet against it happening.

All this from a player who claims she's only play another year and a half.

Congrats Kim.

Photo: Getty Images

Tennis Twitter Photos

I have to confess that since the Aussie Open I've dropped out.

I haven't even looked at any scores this week.

I'll catch up later and look at the draws for next week.

I'm always exhasted after a Slam.

But that doesn't mean I haven't been following my players on Twitter.

Here are a few fun photo's from some of my faves to follow.

Kim tweeted this from Fed Cup this week.

That's Kim with Kristen Flipken (middle) and An-Sophie Mestach (right).

As you know Kim won the AO title.

What you may not know: An-Sophie won the junior titles in singles & doubles.

Here we have Janko Tipsarevic playing with a baby lion in Johannesburg.

Careful there Tipsy you may need that finger.

Then of course we have Stan Wawrinka having his Homer fun in the gym.

Kim Clijsters takes Her Australian Open Trophy to Melbourne's Brighton Beach

AWE, AUSSIE KIM.

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images

2011 Australian Open Champions

Novak Djokovic

Kim Clijsters

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan

Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta

Katarina Srebotnik and Daniel Nestor

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images

Kim Clijsters Wins Australian Open Title

Australian Open - Women's Final

3 Kim Clijsters d 9 Li Na - 36 63 63

Kim was down a set & a break (36 2-3), then she changed her racket...

Kim's finally gets a 'different' Slam to go with her 3 US Open titles.

Kim: I finally feel like you guys can call me Aussie Kim cuz I won the title.

Since her return to the game she has played 5 Slams & has won 3 of them.

Kim has now won 41 career titles - 31 of them have come on hard courts.

The win will bump her up to #2 in the rankings. Only 140 points behind #1.

She has entered the event in Paris - a Sf run there will move her to the top.

Kim last enjoyed a top 2 ranking way back in 2006.

Enjoy Kim while you can:

I do think this is probably my last full season that I'll be playing.

I also would like to try and keep going until the Olympics.

I've never played the Olympics, which is in a year and a half time...

Yeah, so and then we'll see after that. But, uhm, when I started again,

I had the Olympics in my mind. I wanted to try to keep going till then.

Kim Clijsters & Li Na to Play for Australian Open Title

Australian Open - Final Preview

3 Kim Clijsters vs 9 Li Na - H2H: 4-2

Something tells me either winner would make for a very popular champion.

Kim is looking to add a 'different' Slam to her 3 US Open titles.

While Li is looking to become the 1st Asian winner in tennis' long history.

She has already entered the history books by being the 1st Asian finalist.

This is their 3rd meeting at a Slam - Kim won the other two.

Kim came into this tournament the favorite to lift the trophy but...

Remember, Li beat Kim 2 weeks ago in the Sydney final in straight sets.

This would mark Kim's 41st title as opposed to only the 5th for Li.

This is Kim's 8th Slam final: 3-4. And 2nd at the AO: in '04 she lost to Henin.

Let's hope Li's husband & Kim's daughter let them both sleep well last night.

Talk to you on the other side of the match folks.

Photos: Reuters

Women's Semifinals All Set for Australian Open

Australian Open - Women's Semifinal Preview

1 Caroline Wozniacki vs 9 Li Na - 1-2

R'uh r'oh: The 2 played twice last year and Li won them both.

And both of them were in Australia - including at the AO in the 4th round.

Li is also the only undefeated player of 2010.

Caro: By making the Sf's she is assured the #1 ranking on Monday.

***

2 Vera Zvonareva vs 3 Kim Clijsters - 3-6

They played 4 times last year: 3-1/VZ. But Kim won the big one at the USO.

This is the 5th time they've played at a Slam: 3-1/KC.

Their 1st match was a 3-setter way back at USO '02 which went Kim's way.

5 of their 9 matches have gone the distance. I'm thinking tonight too.

Photo: AP/Reuters/Getty Images