Update 12:05 pm. The fire is burning hotter than ever in Kim Clijsters’ belly and there’s no way she’s ready to bow out of tennis with a whimper in 2012.
In fact, the ever-popular Belgian has given Australian fans strong hope this won’t be her last visit Down Under after stressing retirement isn’t in her thoughts.
Although injuries spoiled 2011 following her “dream” Australian Open triumph, Clijsters has regained her motivation to take dates of a potential swansong off the agenda.
The 28-year-old admitted on Wednesday she’d set down August’s London Olympics as a farewell stage when she started her successful comeback two years ago, while coach Carl Maes this month indicated this would be her final year.
> Look at photos of Kim at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
But now she’s far more open-minded as she prepares to begin her 2012 campaign at the Brisbane International.
“At the moment, I’m not even thinking about the Olympics,” she said of retirement talk.
“I don’t think like that. In tennis, the season is long and it’s tough and I just try to focus on one week at a time and my next focus is Brisbane and that’s what I’m training for.
“That’s why I came here (before Christmas) to be ready to try and be the best Kim I can when I play my first match here.
“One day at a time.”
Abdominal, shoulder, wrist and ankle problems reduced Clijsters to just eight tournaments, retiring with injury in two, in 2011 and led to her rankings slide from No.1 to 13.
She’ll line up in Brisbane as the fifth seed behind Sam Stosur, Andrea Petkovic, Francesca Schiavone and Serena Williams but is hitting the ball as powerfully as ever, shown by a recent exhibition win over world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, and is confident of showing her true colours.
“The motivation is there. Because of the injuries maybe last year it was a little down and it was frustrating,” Clijsters said after taking daughter Jada to cuddle koalas at Lone Pine Sanctuary.
“I push myself hard every practice now and that’s the motivation factor that’s there and to achieve that little bit extra that’s a detail you definitely need to have.”
Despite Queenslander Stosur being the home favourite, `Aussie Kim’ will undoubtedly have huge support in both Brisbane and Melbourne next month.
Clijsters is set to kick off main-draw action on Sunday at Pat Rafter Arena and the venue brings back great memories for Clijsters, who scored an epic final victory over compatriot Justine Henin in 2010 after resuming her career only five months earlier.
“It’s always nice to go back to a place where you have done well,” she said.
“I had one of my better matches in my career when I beat Justine.
“And then what happened early this year in Melbourne; it was a dream come true for me.”
Tickets on sale now
Brisbane International 2012 series packages and single sessions are on sale now.
Tickets start from as little as $14.90 for ground passes and can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au/brisbaneinternational or call 1300 888 104.
Be the first to find out the Brisbane International 2012 draw!
The Brisbane International 2012 draws will be available on brisbaneinternational.com.au following the draw, which will be held on Saturday 31 December.
Venue: Queen Street Mall, Brisbane
Date: Saturday 31 December
Time: 10:30 am