Update. An injury-sidelined Kim Clijsters may have been robbed of the chance to claim a US Open hat trick but the Belgian has channeled her frustration into preparation for her 2012 season, which fittingly, begins tomorrow, 1 January.
The fifth seed said it had taken a while for her to regain her confidence on serve after tearing her left abdominal in Toronto’s Rogers Cup in August.
“I had to regain my confidence on my serve, I’m glad that mental hurdle is behind me now.”
Though defeating Danish world number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 7-6 in an exhibition in Antwerp was satisfying, Clijsters said she is excited to be playing official matches after her near five-month hiatus.
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“In a way I feel like I haven’t played for so long, I feel fresh and like I’m ready to go. I feel like my tennis is where it should be, now it’s just a matter of trying to play a few matches.”
The 28-year-old meets Romanian world number 47 Simona Halep in their first ever encounter.
“I’m in a bit of a situation where I have to focus on my game [and] on trying to get match rhythm,” admitted the Brisbane International 2010 champion.
Though she missed the 2011 tournament, Clijsters acknowledged how well Brisbane city and the Queensland Tennis Centre had recovered following the devastating floods.
The ever-friendly ‘Aussie Kim’ also admitted she had a good relationship with Belgian upstarts Alison van Uytvanck and An-Sophie Mestach
“They have my number, if they have questions they can always call me or ask me when they see me on tour,” she said smiling.
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The defending Australian Open champion also revealed that during her months rehabilitating at home in Belgian municipality Bree, she had been spending time at the Kim Clijsters Sports & Health Club, which includes the Kim Clijsters Academy.
“Most of the time when I’m on the massage table now, I have my notepad and I’m just writing stuff down of things I want to create there and what my goals are … I have a lot of ideas but it’s a work in progress,” she said, visibly excited about her venture, which will be renovated in a few months.
According to the former world number one’s website, the renovations will involve adding lighting to and increasing the number of outdoor courts, reconstructing eight indoor courts and redoing the cafeteria, dressing rooms and terrace.
Clijsters said she had become familiar with the kids and their coaches, both of whom are very motivated and are buoyed by supportive and involved parents.
“That’s what I would like to see in the future, a place where everybody feels good, where they can go work out, where they can try to become the best tennis player possible. At the same time there [will be] options for parents to go and relax, have fun, play sports, live a healthy lifestyle and get away from the stress once in a while,” Clijsters said of her vision.
But when she steps onto Pat Rafter Arena on Sunday, the world number 13’s focus will solely be on bringing her best game.