Kim Clijsters played an exhibition match last month at the FORTIS Championships in Luxembourg. Pregnancy didn’t prevent the former world number one from playing her beloved tennis. Other participants at the exhibition included 1998 Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna, Roberto Blanco, and Dan Spogen.

Will Kim Clijsters follow the footsteps of Lindsay Davenport and make a comeback? I think she will, but I don’t think that will happen so shortly after giving birth as in Davenport’s case. Here’s what Clijsters herself said about this: "That is about the last thing on my mind. I'm not even half way through my pregnancy. I'll enjoy that first. I do play a bit once and a while though, together with Caroline Maes."

Some time ago, thinking it would be interesting to make a post that would consist of photos of female tennis players when they were kids, I started searching the Internet. Unfortunately, the only childhood photos I found were ones of Ana Ivanovic, so I gave up the idea. Now, completely unexpectedly, browsing the website of newly-wed and mother-to-be Kim Clijsters, I've come across some of her first photos with a tennis racket. Isn't she cute? Read more »

Retired tennis star Kim Clijsters married US basketball player Brian Lynch in a secret wedding ceremony in Brussels, on July 13th. She got married only a few days after the announcement of her pregnancy. I found these photos via wodjo, but you can see some more photos at Kim's official website.

Kim Clijsters has retired in May, after her short but successful career, in order to focus on her private life. Former world No. 1 is about to marry U.S. basketball player Brian Lynch, and the latest news is that she is pregnant.

Kim’s father said: "If everything goes well, then Kim will become a mother next year and me a grandfather. Yippee." (source: Reuters, photo: Getty Images)

Even though everyone was dissappointed by Kim's early retirement, I think that after all she made the right choice. I wish her all the best!

Kim Clijsters of Belgium was supposed to quit after the tournament in Stuttgart, taking place in October, but she changed her mind and retired May 6, 2007. Even though still in the top 5, she decided to retire after losing to qualifier Julia Vakulenko in Warsaw, and failing to defend her title.

Former world No. 1 in both singles and doubles had too many injuries in her career, so she decided to leave tennis at the young age of 23. "It's tiring to get out of bed and to use an hour just to warm up stiff muscles in the morning," she wrote in her online diary. "The constant injuries and continual rehabilitation … it makes it all even more difficult to go on." All those injuries lead to tiredness and lack of motivation. In addition, she's had enough of packing and unpacking, enough of jet lag and gossip in newspapers.

"It is time for a new life," she said. "Time for marriage. Time for children? Time also to relax and to play with my dogs. And especially to spend a lot of time with my family and friends."

The first Belgian player to be ranked No.1 in the world won 34 career singles titles and 11 doubles titles. She has one Grand Slam title, having won the 2005 U.S. Open.
Kim Clijsters will stay in our minds as not only a great player, but also a great person.