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Kim Clijsters has announced that she will be returning to competitive tennis in 2020 after coming out of retirement.
Four times a Grand Slam singles champion, the Belgian retired in 2012 and has spent the last seven years as a full-time mother to her three children.
However, in a statement released on Twitter, Clijsters confirmed that she would attempt to balance the two and come back to tennis next year.
“For the past seven years, I’ve been a full-time mum. And I love it. I really, really do.
“But I also loved being a professional tennis player.And honestly, I miss that feeling.
US Open 2019 - best pictures Show all 64 1 /64US Open 2019 - best pictures US Open 2019 - best pictures Day one A plane comes in over the New York City skyline as seen from the Arthur Ashe Stadium
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day one The opening ceremony before the match of Serena Williams of the US against Maria Sharapova from Russia
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day One Cameron Norrie of Great Britain returns a shot during his men's singles first round match against Gregoire Barrere of France
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day one Maria Sharapova of Russia returns the ball to Serena Williams
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day one Roger Federer of Switzerland throws balls to members of the public after defeating Sumit Nagal
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day two Garbine Muguruza of Spain hits a return against Alison Riske
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day two Garbine Muguruza of Spain serves against Alison Riske
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day two Dominic Thiem of Austria against Thomas Fabbiano of Italy
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day three Novak Djokovic of Serbia receives treatment between games against Juan Ignacio Londero of Argentina
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day three Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Juan Ignacio Londero
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day three Serena Williams of the US celebrates her wictory against Caty McNally
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day three Serena Williams of the United States reacts during her Women's Singles second round match against Catherine McNally
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day three Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after defeating Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day four Taylor Townsend of the US reacts after winning against Simona Halep
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day four Coco Gauff of the US reacts to winning her match against Timea Babos of Hungary
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day four Alexander Zverev of Germany celebrates after defeating Frances Tiafoe of the US
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day five Serena Williams of the United States reacts during of her Women's Singles round three match against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day six Naomi Osaka of Japan consoles Coco Gauff
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day six Naomi Osaka of Japan consoles Coco Gauff
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day six Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Hyeon Chung of Korea
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day six Rafael Nadal from Spain serves to Hyeon Chung from Korea
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day six Hyeon Chung of South Korea hits a return to Rafael Nadal of Spain
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day six Gael Monfils of France celebrates after his match against Denis Shapovalov of Canada
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day six Nick Kyrgios of Australia reacts vs Andrey Rublev
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day six Andrey Rublev of Russia celebrates winning his Men's Singles third round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day seven Novak Djokovic retired from his US Open clash with Stanislas Wawrinka due to a left shoulder injury
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day seven Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after winning her Women's Singles fourth round match against Petra Martic of Croatia
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day seven Roger Federer made light work of David Goffin
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day seven Johanna Konta celebrates beating Karolina Pliskova on her way to the quarter-finals
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day seven Qiang Wang of China celebrates winning her Women's Singles fourth round match against Ashleigh Barty of Australia
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day eight Osaka struggled against Bencic
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day eight Osaka waves goodbye to the US Open fans
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day eight Rafael Nadal saw off Marin Cilic to reach the US Open last eight
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day eight Marin Cilic lost to Nadal in four sets after putting up a good fight
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day eight Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts as he plays against Diego Schwartzman of Argentina
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day eight Alexander Zverev receives a code violation during his defeat by Diego Schwartzman
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a backhand against Grigor Dmitrov
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria falls as he plays Roger Federer of Switzerland
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria wins the quarterfinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts as he leaves the court after losing to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Daniil Medvedev of Russia hits a return to Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Daniil Medvedev of Russia (L) hugs Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland after defeating him in their Men's Singles Quarterfinal match
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Daniil Medvedev of Russia is interviewed on court after beating Stan Wawrinka
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine The sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline as Serena Williams of the United States faces Qiang Wang of China in a quarterfinal match
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Serena Williams of the US reacts after defeating Qiang Wang of China during their quarter-finals round match
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day nine Serena Williams, of the United States, returns a shot to Qiang Wang, of China, during the quarterfinals
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 10 Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Diego Schwartzman in the US Open quarter-finals
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 10 Matteo Berrettini celebrates after beating Gael Monfil to reach the semi-finals
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 10 Bianca Andreescu is through to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 10 Belinda Bencic reached the last four of the US Open
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 11 Serena Williams came past Elina Svitolina to reach yet another US Open final
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 11 Bianca Andreescu beats Belinda Bencic in the semi-finals
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 12 Rafael Nadal reaches the final where he will play Daniil Medvedev
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 13 Bianca Andreescu arrives on court listening to music before the final
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 13 Bianca Andreescu reacts as she wins against Serena Williams of the during the women's singles final – her first grand slam title
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 13 Bianca Andreescu of Canada reacts as she wins against Serena Williams of the US during the Women's Singles Finals match
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 13 Bianca Andreescu poses with the trophy after she won against Serena Williams
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 14 Bianca Andreescu of Canada poses with her trophy at the Top of the Rock in Rockefeller Center
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 14 Daniil Medvedev of Russia wipes his face while playing Rafael Nadal
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 14 Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts after defeating Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, to win the men's singles final of the U.S. Open
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 14 Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia during the men's final match
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 14 Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during the men's Singles Finals match against Daniil Medvedev
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 14 Rafael Nadal of Spain (L) celebrates his victory over Daniil Medvedev of Russia (R)
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US Open 2019 - best pictures Day 14 Rafael Nadal of Spain holds the trophy after his win over Daniil Medvedev
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“So, what if i tried to do both – could I be a loving mum to my three kids and the best tennis player I can possibly be?
“Let’s do this. Let’s come back one more time.
“See you in 2020.”
Clijsters won three US Open singles titles and an Australian Open during her initial 15-year career, as well as Grand Slam doubles titles on grass and clay with Ai Sugiyama in 2003.
She did not lose a match at the US Open between 2003, when she was beaten in the final, and 2012, winning all three tournaments in which she competed.
Kim Clijsters helped open the new roof on the No.1 Court at Wimbledon alongside John McEnroe (Getty) “Kim Clijsters ranks among the greats of the game and her return to the Tour is exciting news for the WTA family and tennis fans around the world,” said Steve Simon, Women’s Tennis Association Chairman and CEO.
“Driven by her love for the sport, this wonderful champion continues to inspire women and men in all walks of life – and she only adds to the compelling wealth of talent in women’s tennis. I wish Kim all the best in this next chapter of her playing career.”
As a former world number one, Clijsters is eligible for unlimited wild cards at WTA tournaments. She will need play three tournaments or earn 10 ranking points to re-establish a ranking.
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