Today is Kim Clijsters' birthday and a month ago she announced her retirement from tennis. I remember the week she was born very well. I have watched tennis since the late '70s, and I remember when Billie Jean King was a star, when Jimmy Connors was a hot new thing, and when "Virginia Slims" matches were shown on WTBS. I was kind of a fan but what really got me fascinated with tennis was the men's final at the French Open on June 5, 1983. Yannick Noah won the tournament (defeating Mats Wilander in the final) and he wowed me with his between-the-legs returns -- I hadn't seen anything like that before. So that made me a regular tennis watcher. And to think, three days later, one of the greatest players in women's tennis would be born.
Although she never dominated the sport like a Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graff, or Serena Williams, and even though she won only one Grand Slams title (US Open, 2005), she was one of the most innovative, athletic, and personable players that I have ever seen. Her amazing defensive split-and-slide maneuver was every bit as fun to watch as Noah's between-the-leg shots (and now I see it imitated by other younger players in the sport), she had a lightning serve that would overpower all but the best players, and her on-court and off-court behavior personified sportsmanship. She was always a player that I wanted to get behind and root for. And she experienced a most memorable comeback, bouncing back from a very serious wrist injury in 2004 to sweep the hard court season tournaments in 2005, culminating in the US Open win. But continued to suffer injury, including the broken wrist in August 2006 that prevented her from defending her US Open title.
I know I will always treasure seeing Kim last year, playing at her best, seeing her win one of her last tournaments ... how much more special that experience seems now in retrospect. Over the weeklong tournament, I saw her play in four matches and enjoyed every minute of it, and I especially loved meeting her in person. I feel sad that I won't have the same opportunity again, whether in person or on television. I hope whatever she decides to do in the years ahead she will find success, inspiration, and a real joie de vivre.
Here are some photos I took of Kim last year:
Kim signing autographs
Kim with the umpire before the match
Kim and Jelena Jankovic with the coin toss
Kim at her station on the court
Kim ready to serve
Killing Kim making a killer return
Making another killer return
Kim's split-and-slide maneuver
Posing for a photo with a fan
Kim signing autographs
Kim being interviewed by ESPN after her win
Kim holding up her trophy
Kim stretching after the match, with her fiance Brian Lynch
