Biography

In 2001 Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters burst onto the sports scene. On August 11, 2003, she claimed the rank of number one worldwide when she beat Lindsay Davenport in the JP Morgan Chase Open in Los Angeles. By doing so, Clijsters became the 12th player to reach the top of the world rankings since the Women's Tennis Association introduced its computerized ranking system in 1975. However, she also became the first player to be top-ranked without having won a Grand Slam title (that is, by winning any one of the French Open, U.S. Open, Australian Open, and Wimbledon tournaments--the tournaments that matter most in the sport). In other words, Clijsters managed to join the tennis world's elite, but she did so without winning any major titles. She did so despite her history of choking during big matches.

Many people questioned the legitimacy of Clijster’s number one standing, believing that she did not deserve the position without having won a Grand Slam title. Some people said that she did not have the “killer instinct,” the single-minded focus of wanting to win at all costs, that her archrival, fellow Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne, did. The media noted that, compared to some players, she focused on enjoying herself when competing, and she maintained a life outside of tennis. On October 20, 2003, Clijsters lost her ranking after 10 weeks to Henin-Hardenne. The pressure that came with being number one, especially without a Grand Slam title, may have contributed to Clijsters’ nervousness in competition during the latter part of the season. By the end of the season, Clijsters won nine tournaments, including successfully defending her Tour Championships crown in November 2003, but she had still not won her first Grand Slam title.

On February 15, 2004, Clijsters claimed her first tournament win of the season and her 20th career title when she defeated Mary Pierce in the Paris Open. Her win moved her closer to reclaiming the number one spot from Henin-Hardenne.

As of this writing, Clijsters has no plans in tennis beyond the 2007 season, meaning that she might retire at the age of 23. It remains to be seen whether she will be remembered as being “always a bridesmaid but never a bride” in tennis…and how she will find enjoyment beyond her athletic career.