Clijsters to quit in 2007

[Power_Player]

Here is an article i've found - please post your views.

Troubled Clijsters to quit in '07

Clijsters has been plagued by injury in recent seasons
Former world number one Kim Clijsters says she will retire from professional tennis by the end of 2007.
Clijsters has suffered from a series of injuries since 2003, when she became the first woman since 1974 to play more than 100 singles matches in a season.

She returned from a career-threatening left wrist injury in February and has also suffered a knee injury this year.

Clijsters said: "I think I will stop at the end of 2007. My body is already giving me a lot of problems."

Despite those injury setbacks, Clijsters has won six titles this season, including the Rogers Cup in Toronto last weekend.

She goes into next week's US Open seeded fourth as she hunts her first Grand Slam singles title.

But the 22-year-old, who broke up with long-time boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt last October, is not happy with her current way of life.

"I like to win and I put in a lot to do that, but the quality of life in and outside tennis are at least as important," she said.

"It might sound odd, but it's all becoming tougher on me - the tournaments, the travelling.

"I can't see myself playing for more than two or three years.

"Maybe I will still play the (Antwerp) Diamond Games in 2008, as a goodbye tournament, but that will be it."

Troubled by injury

Clijsters won nine singles titles and seven doubles finals in 2003, becoming the first Belgian to reach number one.

In early 2004 she lost her fourth grand slam final, at the Australian Open, where she was troubled by an ankle injury.

In June she had an operation on her wrist and missed the rest of the 2004 season.

After thrashing her compatriot and great rival Justine Henin-Hardenne in the Toronto final last weekend, Clijsters admitted her Achilles tendon was giving her problems

If you'd rather read it on the website...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4187062.stm

 

[Rataplan]

She (and her father) always said that she would not have a long career, even before those injuries. It's no surprise really.

I really hope she manages to get at least one slam victory before she stops.

 

[laurie]

I hope she doesn't quit. Maybe she was feeling a bit down when she did the interview.

 

[pound cat]

I think the initial plan was that she was to quite a year or 2 ago. I'm sure what she would love to do is lead a normal life as a hausfrau...husband, kids, dog. . She has mentioned her American bf who plays bb for a Belgian team.

 

[Clutch]

Look at the labor-extensive style she plays, and you can't have that style work for you unless you are in shape, which Nadal is. Too bad, but hopefully she will change her mind and put a lot of hard work into everything to make her tennis career flourish. She is way to young and can still accomplish much.

What I frequently find with pros is that it is mostly the mental side that takes them down....

 

[Batoussai]

I Live in Belgium and I am not surprised. For Clijsters tennis is not the most important thing in her life. The life outside the circuit means a lot to her. She's just not as motivated as Justine. Justine wants the big carreer and to be as great as her idol Graff. CLijsters just wants to have fun.

Too bad for belgian tennis. Hopefully justine will keep on playing.

 

[uNIVERSE mAN]

who cares! her game bores me, a lesser version of seles

 

[arosen]

She has a lovely personality, a great gal all around, so to say. However, her game's way boring, typical baseliner, hates to come in, average serve. No redeeming qualities besides being a nice person.

 

[!Tym]

I'm actually more surprised that more players don't retire early. I can't imagine traveling year round, let alone world wide. First class or no, that would kill me. For me, plane fights are epic battles that destroy my fiber as a man or woman.

Edberg said that the biggest reason he quit was that he didn't want to travel anymore, and that's also why he won't play the seniors tour. He says that he simply refuses to travel anymore.

Arazi when he started going down hill, he said it was because he just got sick of all the traveling.

I can't think of any other sport that forces players to travel so much. In team sports, you at least have teammates and a lively atmosphere, charter jets, even team jets, etc. Plus, in team sports you only travel from state to state, not world wide.

 

[Kevin Patrick]

Yeah, in the Brad Gilbert interview he said he was reluctant to coach again because of the travelling commitment. The espn job allows him to spend more time with his family.

 

[bluegrasser]

No redeeming qualities ! geesh ! you wish you had some of her qualities - top five in the world, great composure on court, awesome athlete , and nice person to boot.

 

[scotus]

I wish Kim would stop playing so many of these lesser tournaments. She wastes her energy winning the small ones all the while putting the unnecessary mileage on her body, and when she gets to the Slams, she doesn't perform to the best of her abilities. I hope she will learn to play fewer tournaments and try to peak at the right time, i.e., for the grand slams.

But bless her heart. If an early retirement makes her happy, so be it. All the best to her.

 

[fedfan01]

I like Kim, I hope she wins this U.S. Open, as she seems to be the favorite, before she retires, if she really will retire, which I doubt.

 

[AngeloDS]

A good choice for her. Hope she enjoys her life outside of tennis.

I couldn't even imagine. My body gets beat up from little tournaments, and just social play. I can't begin to imagine how much the body takes during those 5 setters, back to back to back for some players.

Dang, I'd be so beat and dead. I wouldn't get out of bed for a couple months.

Hats off to all the players.

 

[tennis4losers]

How old is she again?

 

[tennis4losers]

But the 22-year-old, who broke up with long-time boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt last October, is not happy with her current way of life.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/4187062.stm

Oh never mind shes 22. Oh she looks old for her age.

 

[Jess]

It's been more than half a year now since Kim released her statements on retiring and I was wondering if she still stands by it. Her entry in Wikipedia basically says the same thing discussed earlier in this thread, but it's been a while and maybe she's changed her mind?

Almost synonimously appearing with the name "Clijsters" is her infamous split move, and almost synonimously appearing with that is what, supposedly, doctors say about it being too hard on her body. She's said before that she's not going to stop using her move because of what doctors speculate, so maybe it isn't all health-wise with her desires of retiring.

 

[superman1]

I'm sure she's a great person and all, but it's honestly pathetic to hear all these comments from a 22 year old about keeping her body healthy. You're a friggin' athlete. Doesn't she take a hint from all these players that retire and then miss tennis so much that they either play exhibitions/charity/senior's tour or actually come back professionally? Doesn't she take a hint from Andre Agassi who's playing at 36 with all sorts of injuries and health risks, but says that he plays because tennis has given him so much and he just wants to give back? When she's 25 and has nothing to do all day, she'll regret it.

 

[DashaandSafin]

I doubt she will quit now since she got over her GS hump.

 

[equinox]

She should retire and marry some european skier and starting having babies.

 

[raftermania]

Almost synonimously appearing with the name "Clijsters" is her infamous split move, ...

Don't worry, I'm sure her and her husband will be practicing this move long after retirement.

 

[Jess]

I'm sure she's a great person and all, but it's honestly pathetic to hear all these comments from a 22 year old about keeping her body healthy...

I never really caught onto this element of tennis either; a majority of the players are all so young, and most of the top pros in the world haven't even reached their 30th birthday yet but the topic of retirement comes around every other day!

I don't see tennis as a more strenuous sport in comparison to other sports that work your body rigorously, like Aussie Rules Football or basketball. ARF requires a lot of strength and mental sharpness, and at age 25, I'm pretty sure that the pros will still have it when they get there. And basketball requires as much speed and agility as tennis; you have to be working the entire court, it's not even an option in basketball. The pros of said sports don't usually even mention retirement until well into their 30's.

Why is it that our top players linger on the idea of retirement before they even reach the tender age of 25? What makes tennis stand out like this? Is it the traveling? Maybe physical fatigue?

 

[lynnlovestennis]

I'll believe it when I see it. She's got a cute bf who is actually off the tour, but likes to travel with her. She'll be around for a while I'll bet. She likes to stir the fan pot. Check out her website where she always breaks her own news for the press. ((yawn))

 

[quest01]

Thats too bad. Clijsters should play until shes atleast in her early 30s. Its really a shame that such a good player like herself would retire at a relatively young age. She needs to fight through her injuries just like everyone else on tour and stop complaining.

 

[GoWilliamsSisters]

Who cares?

Who cares if Clijsters quits? She is no longer a major competitor in Women's tennis. The William's sisters are definantly going to dominate again. You just watch out. Not only are the William's sisters more powerful, they have the potential to even beat lower ranked men's players. It's just that they haven't been trying lately. They are focusing on important careers moves.

- Kristi

 

[Grimjack]

Who cares if Clijsters quits? She is no longer a major competitor in Women's tennis. The William's sisters are definantly going to dominate again. You just watch out. Not only are the William's sisters more powerful, they have the potential to even beat lower ranked men's players. It's just that they haven't been trying lately. They are focusing on important careers moves.

- Kristi

It'll be a real shame if anyone takes this rank-smelling bait.

 

[GoWilliamsSisters]

It'll be a real shame if anyone takes this rank-smelling bait.

and by that you mean?
L E A R N ENGLISH

 

[West Coast Ace]

It'll be a real shame if anyone takes this rank-smelling bait.

GoWilliamsSisters obviously (and mistakenly) heard we were running a troll or two short on this board...

 

[raftermania]

Who cares if Clijsters quits? She is no longer a major competitor in Women's tennis. The William's sisters are definantly going to dominate again. You just watch out. Not only are the William's sisters more powerful, they have the potential to even beat lower ranked men's players. It's just that they haven't been trying lately. They are focusing on important careers moves.

- Kristi

Hey Richard, how are you doing these days????

 

[Viper]

I can't wait until she retires. She annoyes me to death with the, " I won a match but I feel 2/20 on the 'how i feel' scale". She makes a huge deal even if she had the smallest injury. Maybe she wouldn't have as many injuries if she didn't do the splits every shot she made.

 

[equinox]

Who cares if Clijsters quits? She is no longer a major competitor in Women's tennis. The William's sisters are definantly going to dominate again. You just watch out. Not only are the William's sisters more powerful, they have the potential to even beat lower ranked men's players. It's just that they haven't been trying lately. They are focusing on important careers moves.

- Kristi

The only thing the Ghetto Sisters will dominate in the future is the McDonalds Queues.

 

[Jess]

I can't wait until she retires. She annoyes me to death with the, " I won a match but I feel 2/20 on the 'how i feel' scale". She makes a huge deal even if she had the smallest injury. Maybe she wouldn't have as many injuries if she didn't do the splits every shot she made.

Now I think that's a big exaggeration. The same can be said about most players. They're tennis pros, they depend on their bodies to make a living, and if something has gone awry, they need to address it and fix it ASAP. Health is probably one of the biggest factors they look out for, and if mentioning it every now and then is a sin, then half of the pros should be in the black book.

 

[lynnlovestennis]

Clijsters just pulled from Pacific Life.

 

[The tennis guy]

Clijsters just pulled from Pacific Life.

Cljisters has a habit of coming back from injury earlier, then re-injure. Her ankle injury from Aussie Open was supposed to heal in 4-8 weeks. She came back in two weeks, re-injured it again.

No wonder she is going to have to quit by the end of 2007. She plays too much.

 

[Cyclops]

Till March 9th ...

Clijsters just pulled from Pacific Life.

Well I guess she's still got a little over two weeks to change her mind. And if TheTennisGuy is right, and she always comes back early, then maybe she'll be at PL after all.

Personally I hope she gives her ankle the time it needs to heal and then comes back when she's good and ready - cos she rocks.

 

[allez]

I don't care if Clijster quits. She is just one of the many who play "big-girl" baseline tennis. She got good power on both side of the groundies but game, and she choked too many time.

I will be disappointed if JHH quits. JHH is the total tennis player. She is the only reason I even watch women tennis.

 

[ruechutar]

Too young too quit really. I still hope she's changed her mind. Maybe she will get the better life after she retired

 

[austro]

She pulled out of Indian Wells too. It's a shame though - I like her a lot and unlikely many other players, she is actually a nice person.