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former world no.1 Kim Clijsters misses her …

Back on the courts after seven years of absence, the ex-world no.1 Kim Clijsters lost 6-2 7-6 (8/6) against the Spanish Garbine Muguruza (WTA 16) in the first round of the Dubai tournament. But the Belgian posted a level full of promises.

For his comeback, the former Belgian champion inherited an opponent up to the task: former world No. 1 and winner of two Grand Slam tournaments, Muguruza reached the Australian Open final in January.

Clijsters had moved away from the courts for the first time at the end of 2007. On her return, two years and a pregnancy later, she had impressed everyone: quarter-final in Cincinnati, eighth in Montreal then title at the US Open, a resounding feat.

She played very well, she can still play very well

Garbine Muguruza (WTA 16)

But she was then 26 years old. Now a 36-year-old mother of three, she has not played a professional game since her elimination from the second round of the 2012 US Open.

Faced with Muguruza, she initially appeared less mobile than in her prime, her forehand seemed disorganized … and her opponent did not help her by chaining powerful services and winning shots, and clearly taking the lead.

It was 6-2 3-0 that Clijsters began to score hits worthy of his record (41 titles including four Grand Slam tournaments). A white breakout, first, then a globally mastered set to push his opponent to the tie-break.

If that was not enough to reverse the trend, her second part of the second set shows that she is still able to stand up to the best players on the circuit.

“She played very well, she can still play very well,” reacted her opponent the day after the match ended. “She is an incredible player,” she also said.

Her next tournament could be in Monterrey, Mexico (early March), where she was originally scheduled to return to competition before accepting an invitation to the Dubai tournament.

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