Kim Clijsters always carried a smile both on and off the court. The three-time US Open champion was not only known for her world class tennis, but also for her refreshingly positive attitude. Whether the Belgian won or lost she never lost sight of her privilege to play the sport she loved for a living.
On Wednesday, the four-time Grand Slam champion was inducted into the US Open’s Court of Champions. The former world No. 1 was celebrated in front of a full Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd inbetween Wednesday's night matches.
Clijsters is the 28th inductee and the first since Tracy Austin in 2016. In 2005 Clijsters came back from wrist surgery, capturing nine titles including her first Grand Slam victory at the US Open.
At 24 years old the Belgian would retire due to the same left-wrist injury and started a family, giving birth to her daughter Jada Elle before returning to the court in 2009.
Once again, Clijsters would triumph upon return, and it would happen on the same hard courts in New York. Clijsters defeated both Williams sisters to win her second US Open title in 2009 and her first Grand Slam victory as a mother. She would go on to grab her third US Open title in 2010 and the 2011 Australian Open.
