Belgian Kim Clijsters, who just came out of retirement this year, beat American Venus Williams at the Diamond Games exhibition match in Antwerp, 6-1, 7-5.
It was the first high-level match that Clijsters had played in her native country since returning to tennis this year. They were playing in front of 14,000 people in the stands and Clijsters said that not even the US Open final can compare with the feeling of winning in your native country before a packed Sportpaleis.
Of course it was only an exhibition match, but I can’t see one of the Williams’ sisters ever not taking a match seriously. This could be a taste of what is to come from Clijsters. She seems to have shaken off all the cob-webs of retirement, and has proven she still has what it takes by winning the 2009 U.S. Open. Her next test will come at Brisbane where she is entered in the Brisbane International scheduled for January 3-10, 2010. At that tournament we will also get to see if Justine Henin will be able to launch a successful comeback as well a she comes out of retirement. It should prove to be an exciting year in Women’s Tennis.
