Can we have a real discussion about Kim Clijsters?

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

She was out hitting her opponent big time. If she were 10 years younger she would be dominating the tour right now.

Not sure about that. The shotmaking and power she once had is not unique on the tour...her game has been figured out. She has to rely on experience more than anything else, but at the moment, it appeared she was more about getting into playing rather than pulling ideas from that file of experience.

 

[WYK]

She won her first set without much fuss. Perhaps she is making a point. Similar to the one first made by Krajicek back in the 90's...

 

[Soianka]

Cmon she played 3 matches, one with Muguruza, ona with Konta and one with Alexandrova which she could actually win. So it is not like she played some 50-100 raning players and played terribly. She needs some fitness and more matches and rythm. And she could make it to TOP50 easily. If she can do more, I don’t know for now.

I was surprised at how well she was able to compete to be honest. I thought her performance was a hopeful one.

 

[bjsnider]

Too much upper body mommy weight.

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1367218979358396417

 

[Musterrific]

Hopefully she's been hitting the gym.

 

[BGod]

Her USO match was all about her fitness level. Her hitting was good enough to make R16 at a hard court Slam.

Reality is the WTA is so pathetic right now ex greats would be nutty not to consider coming back unless seriously injured like Bartolli.

This is why so many oldies have stuck around on the ATP. Guys that would have long retired if not for the weakling field making it at least reasonable of a shot to make a Slam Quarter and getting that money and continuing to build your brand depending on region.

 

[tennispartner]

Amazing that she's playing at 37 after long breaks from tennis and pushing herself to make it happen.

 

[Wander]

Reality is the WTA is so pathetic right now ex greats would be nutty not to consider coming back unless seriously injured like Bartolli.

I think this a bit misleading. Most of the "ex greats" didn't just stop because they suddenly had something better to do. No matter how weak you think the current crop of players is, the ex greats would not be able to come back and win Slams again, and not being able to win Slams anymore was probably a big part of why they retired in the first place. Of course, some of them could probably come back and do okay for a while before running into physical issues again.
In the Williams sisters we already have two examples of ex greats who have stuck around. Most of those who came back would probably be performing more like Venus than like Serena who is still a threat but gets stopped typically by an eventual winner or finalist.

 

[spystud]

Do not feed the troll.

Poor guy has nothing better to do than ignorantly bash the WTA.

 

[MichaelNadal]

I'm with the Commissioner of Tennis on this one:

This was great

 

[spystud]

Welp, scratch the comeback for now.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1371166894057738248

 

[Enceladus]

Kim's statement to withdraw from Miami and Charleston:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1371086707030945795

 

[DMP]

What we have missed...

 

[gjm127]

Kim's statement to withdraw from Miami and Charleston:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1371086707030945795

I don't understand what she's after.

 

[accidental]

Harsh reality seems to be starting to settle in...

Being in match shape is at least 50% of being a ‘professional athlete’. It’s the hard part. You can’t just transform a 37 year old mom of 3 body into something comparable to a 20 year old elite athlete in a matter of months, especially when you already have a huge list of pre existing injuries

 

[Jack the Hack]

Harsh reality seems to be starting to settle in...

Being in match shape is at least 50% of being a ‘professional athlete’. It’s the hard part. You can’t just transform a 37 year old mom of 3 body into something comparable to a 20 year old elite athlete in a matter of months, especially when you already have a huge list of pre existing injuries

I agree. What's interesting to me is that Clijsters is clearly never going to be as good as she was, no matter how in shape she gets now. She may have enough game for an upset here or there, but she's done.

And she's only 37 years old.

Federer is 39, has had 3 knee surgeries now, has a history of lower back issues, and has only played 2 matches in the last 14 months... but a few people think he's going to win Wimbledon!

Sorry, I love both of these players, but it's over.

 

[spystud]

Out in 3 to Hsieh in Chicago R1.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Come on Kimmy....

 

[thrust]

I think most tennis fans are glad to see her back on the courts. However, despite all her accomplishments from years past, I think this game has past her by. I know her coming out of retirement brings a new spirit to the WTA, but quite frankly I think she’s setting herself up for a really tough year and possible injury. I watched her match against Konta and although her strokes, serves, etc are still VERY technically sound, her movement is just not there. Perhaps because she’s older or maybe because she not in the best shape. I was rooting for her as most were, but the reality is the new school of WTA players are just too much for her. I think she should find a good doubles partner and she’ll more success.

I Agree, but I also do not think she should be getting wildcards into these tournaments. She should be forced to qualify because she has been away from the game for so long and because she could be denying a young player a chance to make some money. Kim has had her day, has won 4 slams and lots of money and should not now be getting a free ride because she is famous, old and out of shape.

 

[skaj]

Out in 3 to Hsieh in Chicago R1.

A rare match I would pay to watch today.

 

[spystud]

It wasn’t very good.

 

[skaj]

It wasn’t very good.

What wasn't?

 

[spystud]

The Kim/Hsieh match. You wouldn’t have wanted to pay much.

 

[skaj]

The Kim/Hsieh match. You wouldn’t have wanted to pay much.

Why do you say that?

 

[spystud]

Because I watched it. Hsieh does what Hsieh does, & Kim isn’t WTA-level anymore. Anything even remotely out wide was a forced lunge & usually into the net. And I’m not talking about the prime-Kim patented slide, I mean she couldn’t get her feet where they needed to be.

 

[spystud]

54 UE, 12 total breaks.

 

[skaj]

Because I watched it. Hsieh does what Hsieh does, & Kim isn’t WTA-level anymore. Anything even remotely out wide was a forced lunge & usually into the net. And I’m not talking about the prime-Kim patented slide, I mean she couldn’t get her feet where they needed to be.

I assumed you watched it, I just wondered what is it that you didn't like.
If Hsieh does what Hsieh does, that's already worth watching. And even "non wta-level Kim" is still more fun with her skill and mind than most of the current field.

 

[Mark-Touch]

The Kim/Hsieh match. You wouldn’t have wanted to pay much.

I missed the match too.
Could you give us a brief summary of how it played out?
Thanks.

 

[spystud]

My thoughts are above.


Edit: Both YouTube vids deleted.

 

[Swingmaster]

I Agree, but I also do not think she should be getting wildcards into these tournaments. She should be forced to qualify because she has been away from the game for so long and because she could be denying a young player a chance to make some money. Kim has had her day, has won 4 slams and lots of money and should not now be getting a free ride because she is famous, old and out of shape.

Oh come on. People are saying this about Andy Murray too. I'd say having Kim or Andy in the draw of a crappy tournament is a good thing.

 

[ChaelAZ]

...setting up for a really tough year and possible injury.... strokes, serves, etc are still VERY technically sound,...movement is just not there...because....older or maybe because...not in the best shape.

Dis me!

 

[norcal]

Oh come on. People are saying this about Andy Murray too. I'd say having Kim or Andy in the draw of a crappy tournament is a good thing.

I watched some of the match while eating lunch. I am not one to focus on a later 30's comebacking mom's weight but Kim looked way too big to hang with a decent WTA player (no offense to Hsieh but she is older and rarely wins in singles these days).
Murray on the other hand is in very good shape and gives quality ATP guys competitive matches.

Now maybe Kim has dropped a ton of weight on her comeback in which case she can keep getting better - good for her. But if she's gonna stay at this level of fitness it's not a good watch (coming from someone who always liked watching her).

 

[Beacon Hill]

I Agree, but I also do not think she should be getting wildcards into these tournaments. She should be forced to qualify because she has been away from the game for so long and because she could be denying a young player a chance to make some money. Kim has had her day, has won 4 slams and lots of money and should not now be getting a free ride because she is famous, old and out of shape.

Or perhaps giving her a wild card promotes the tournament enough for it to exist at all, thus allowing young players a venue to earn a living at tennis.

 

[tennis tom]

What is all that noise at Chicago?--it sounds like they're playing in the median of a twelve lane freeway. Go Kimmy!

 

[Harry_Wild]

It is Kim 3rd comeback! The 2nd comeback she won 2 GS and came in as a finalist! Not sure how Kim will come out in her current comeback!

 

[accidental]

She started her comeback in Feb 2020, so 19 months ago now.

She is now 0-4 and doesn’t appear to have improved her shape much.

Although she got a set today, she was playing a 35 year old doubles specialist ranked 97 in singles

 

[zvelf]

Even though Hsieh was a late bloomer, she is a couple of years past her prime in singles now at age 35 so not the opponent she once was. Kim still hits crisp and hard but she's carrying too much weight to reach the ball, much like Serena these days. I don't mind Kim and Venus continuing to play, but you should adjust your expectations for them. I doubt either will break the top 50 again.

 

[jmnk]

What is all that noise at Chicago?--it sounds like they're playing in the median of a twelve lane freeway. Go Kimmy!

You are correct. This venue is next to a major interstate. Plus there's also a subway line in between interstate lanes there. Plus a Metra train line. That's on the west side of the courts. Then another subway line on the east side. All that noise is essentially commuter traffic. Non stop.
It is actually quite amazing that 500 level tournament could be held there. There are no permanent stands. Or lights.

 

[tennis tom]

Thanks for the explanation on the noise--WOW!--but it should drown out the gunfire.

 

[Swingmaster]

I watched some of the match while eating lunch. I am not one to focus on a later 30's comebacking mom's weight but Kim looked way too big to hang with a decent WTA player (no offense to Hsieh but she is older and rarely wins in singles these days).
Murray on the other hand is in very good shape and gives quality ATP guys competitive matches.

Now maybe Kim has dropped a ton of weight on her comeback in which case she can keep getting better - good for her. But if she's gonna stay at this level of fitness it's not a good watch (coming from someone who always liked watching her).

I get your point, but it was a three setter, and she wasn't limping around. That's not too bad is it? I would agree if it was like a 6-1 6-0 beat down. That would be hard for the event to justify. But still, if Sampras wanted to play Wimbledon next year, I might give him a wild card.

 

[thrust]

I assumed you watched it, I just wondered what is it that you didn't like.
If Hsieh does what Hsieh does, that's already worth watching. And even "non wta-level Kim" is still more fun with her skill and mind than most of the current field.

The quality of the match was bad, at best, by both players. I believe Hsieh is also past 30, has won basically nothing, a journeywoman, at best.

 

[spystud]

I get your point, but it was a three setter, and she wasn't limping around. That's not too bad is it? I would agree if it was like a 6-1 6-0 beat down. That would be hard for the event to justify. But still, if Sampras wanted to play Wimbledon next year, I might give him a wild card.

You didn’t see the match. It was awful. Two terrible players trying to represent this sport. It was awful.

 

[Ronaldo]

The quality of the match was bad, at best, by both players. I believe Hsieh is also past 30, has won basically nothing, a journeywoman, at best.

Y'all gonna hate the WTA Senior Tour!

 

[skaj]

The quality of the match was bad, at best, by both players. I believe Hsieh is also past 30, has won basically nothing, a journeywoman, at best.

I don't know what your criterion for match quality is, so saying that the match was good, bad, mediocre etc. means nothing to me.

And what does your last sentence have to do with what I have said?

 

[thrust]

You didn’t see the match. It was awful. Two terrible players trying to represent this sport. It was awful.

TRUE!

 

[Swingmaster]

You didn’t see the match. It was awful. Two terrible players trying to represent this sport. It was awful.

Whether I did or didn't watch the match is a private matter that I do not wish to disclose. But generally those two are fun to watch. Maybe they were covered in tar.

 

[zvelf]

The quality of the match was bad, at best, by both players. I believe Hsieh is also past 30, has won basically nothing, a journeywoman, at best.

Hsieh has only won 3 singles titles, but she has spent 39 weeks as #1 in doubles and has won 4 slams in doubles including Wimbledon 3 times and has also won the year-end championship in doubles. She's hardly a journeywoman.

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1443675828013830174

 

[skaj]

You didn’t see the match. It was awful. Two terrible players trying to represent this sport. It was awful.

It was great fun compared to 90% of matches played today(boring baseline who will hit harder and stay in a rally longer exchanges...). The two are among the most watchable players in WTA history. And I don't think they are "trying to represent the sport", but to enjoy tennis and win matches.