Kim Clijsters
Former World No. 1 Kim Clijsters has long been a fan favourite on the WTA Tour. The four-time Grand Slam winner, who has won three World Tour Finals, took her first retirement in 2007, following which she returned to win two more Grand Slams in addition to a number of titles on the WTA circuit.
Clijsters is the daughter of the late former footballer Lei Clijsters, who was a prominent fixture on the Belgian national football team. The senior Clijsters was part of Belgian club KV Mechelen, and with them won both the UEFA Super Cup and the UEFA Winners’ Cup.
Clijsters’ mother Els Vandecaetsbeek is a former national gymnastics champion from Belgium, who later went on to coach young players in the sport. Clijsters’ parents separated a decade ago, with her mother marrying professional golfer Jan Goosens.
Kim’s younger sister Elke was also a professional tennis player, winning the girls’ doubles at Wimbledon in 2002 with Barbora Strycova and the US Open girls’ doubles that same year with compatriot Kirsten Flipkens.
Formerly engaged to fellow World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt – a relationship that earned her the nickname ‘Aussie Kim’, Clijsters went on to marry basketball player Brian Lynch.
Lei Clijsters passed away in 2009, succumbing to a long bout with lung cancer.
