Clijsters loses Comeback-Match

After a break of a good seven years Kim Clijsters loses at her comeback in Dubai. Against Garbine Muguruza, however, the mother of three manages a strong comeback.

Former world number one Kim Clijsters has celebrated a strong comeback in professional tennis despite a defeat.

In her first match after 2728 days, the 36-year-old Belgian had to admit defeat in the first round at the WTA tournament in Dubai to the huge favourite Garbine Muguruza after a hard fight 2-6, 6-7 (6-8) and against the Spanish Australian Open finalist she showed old class at times.

“I had a good feeling out there,” said Clijsters: “In the second set I was really in the match, at times I dominated some points. How I got back into the match, what kind of tennis I played – that’s something positive that I can take back to the upcoming matches”.

Clijsters, who has returned to the WTA Tour for the second time, had to struggle with a lack of match practice against two-time Grand Slam winner Muguruza seven and a half years after her last official match, and she didn’t really seem to be well trained. Nevertheless, the Belgian player challenged her opponent several times with her still very dangerous forehand and fought with a lot of heart against the threatening defeat.

Clijsters at eye level in the second set
In the second set Clijsters presented himself at eye level, made up for a 0:3 and 2:4 deficit against the increasingly impressed Muguruza and led 5:4 and 6:5. In the tiebreak Clijsters fended off another match point, in the end the better serve of the ten years younger Muguruza made the difference.