Verbeeck still hopeful for Clijsters’ return.

TeamWTA photo
By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 5 2005

The organization of the Proximus Diamond Games is still hopeful about Kim Clijsters’ return after her wrist injury. Clijsters had to pull out from last years tournament in Hasselt, she still has to make her return on the WTA tour. Bob Verbeeck and her fans hope to see Kim back in action in Antwerp.

Kim Clijsters is trying to get her competitive life back in order and return to the WTA tour. “She is back on the practice court and she is playing two sets matches with male sparring partners,” said Proximus Diamond Games tournament director Bob Verbeeck, “The most important is that Kim does not have any problems with her wrist after hitting winners. I still assume that she is going to play in Antwerp. Her backup team still is confident about Kim’s return to the highest level of WTA tennis”.

After Dementieva pulled out of the Proximus Diamond Games there is still a good field of players who entered. Venus Williams, Anastasia Myskina, Amelie Mauresmo and Alicia Molik are four of the top ten who show up in Antwerp. Karolina Sprem, Nadia Petrova and Silvia Farina Elia with a possible addition of Nathalie Dechy or Patty Schnyder will complete the list of top 20 players.

Kim Clijsters will at least be present on Friday 11th to handle the main draw. She is taking fate into her own hands since she has no bye in the first round.

She also made clear that she sorted out her private life after the breakup with Lleyton Hewitt. Clijsters is dating former Mister Limburg, countrymen, former electrician and model Luc Opdelocht. Clijsters wishes to keep her love life a private matter and has not made any statement about her new boyfriend.

“Luc is indeed Kim’s new boyfriend but she is not going to say any more about it,” said the family spokesperson. “She is not going to mention it on her website or any other topic concerning her private life”.