Clijsters Comeback at WTA Hasselt Event
Posted on October 29, 2006Kim Clijsters has qualified for the year-end WTA Tour Championships, but she said her participation is not certain given her absence from the tour of late due to injury. Her return this week at the Gaz de France Stars in Hasselt, Belgium, will likely determine her fitness level and will to face off against her fellow Top 8 players next week in Madrid.
Clijsters is the second seed behind Russian Nadia Petrova, and is joined by fellow seeds Nicole Vaidisova, Francesca Schiavone, Ana Ivanovic, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Katarina Srebotnik and Ai Sugiyama.
Swiss Patty Schnyder withdrew from the event after her year-end championship hopes were dashed last week in Linz.
The top-seeded Petrova opens against American Meghann Shaughnessy, and Clijsters against a qualifier then the winner of Russian Maria Kirilenko and Croatian Karolina "The Spreminator" Sprem. Clijsters could potentially face Sugiyama in the quarterfinals, and Ivanovic or Schiavone in the semis.
Sugiyama opens against France's Nathalie Dechy, Vaidisova against Belgian wildcard Kirsten Flipkens, Groenefeld against Aussie riser Sam Stosur, and Ivanovic against Dutch legacy Michaella Krajicek.
Other wildcards went to Belgian Caroline Maes and Russian Vera Dushevina.
Clijsters is the defending champion, last year easing past Schiavone 6-2, 6-3 in the final.
"I can truly say now that I'll be ready for my first match in two months," said Clijsters, who will likely get a Wednesday start, on her personal website. "And this before my home audience, always a great pleasure. Whatever the outcome will be, I'm not at expecting too much. The Gaz de France Stars have a strong field this year, worthy of a Tier II tournament. My major aim right now is to be able to play the first match without pain, and win it of course."
Clijsters is the second seed behind Russian Nadia Petrova, and is joined by fellow seeds Nicole Vaidisova, Francesca Schiavone, Ana Ivanovic, Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Katarina Srebotnik and Ai Sugiyama.
Swiss Patty Schnyder withdrew from the event after her year-end championship hopes were dashed last week in Linz.
The top-seeded Petrova opens against American Meghann Shaughnessy, and Clijsters against a qualifier then the winner of Russian Maria Kirilenko and Croatian Karolina "The Spreminator" Sprem. Clijsters could potentially face Sugiyama in the quarterfinals, and Ivanovic or Schiavone in the semis.
Sugiyama opens against France's Nathalie Dechy, Vaidisova against Belgian wildcard Kirsten Flipkens, Groenefeld against Aussie riser Sam Stosur, and Ivanovic against Dutch legacy Michaella Krajicek.
Other wildcards went to Belgian Caroline Maes and Russian Vera Dushevina.
Clijsters is the defending champion, last year easing past Schiavone 6-2, 6-3 in the final.
"I can truly say now that I'll be ready for my first match in two months," said Clijsters, who will likely get a Wednesday start, on her personal website. "And this before my home audience, always a great pleasure. Whatever the outcome will be, I'm not at expecting too much. The Gaz de France Stars have a strong field this year, worthy of a Tier II tournament. My major aim right now is to be able to play the first match without pain, and win it of course."