Clijsters keeps positivity intact in uncertain times

When Kim Clijsters began her comeback after eight years off the tour, there was no way she could have predicted an obstacle as huge as COVID-19. The 37-year-old's determination hasn't dimmed despite a four-month tour shutdown.

"It doesn't mean because COVID happened that I'm not interested in playing more tennis," she said.

Her many fans will get to see her play a lot as she'll get valuable match play with the New York Empire for World TeamTennis from July 12-August 2. She opened on Monday with a singles win over Washington's Bernard Pera though her team ultimately lost 21-20.

"In the last three weeks, the intensity has definitely gone up," she said of her preparation. "The first few weeks, I just took time off to let a few little injuries heal and then when we were able to fly back to Belgium, started training there."

She retired in 2012 after winning four Grand Slams, and has three children, Jada, Jack and Blake. The new normal at home has been a balancing act for the Belgian.

Her signature positive attitude is still very much intact.

"There are some challenges and combining parenting at home and teaching the kids at home and still going to practice and things like that," Clijsters said. "So it was challenging but at the same time you get through that together and we've had great family moments. So you learn.

"You just try to see the positive things out of moments that you're in and that's another big lesson that you learn."

Clijsters was all set to compete at Indian Wells in early March—which would have been her third tournament back, having lost to Garbine Muguruza in Dubai and Johanna Konta in Monterrey.

"In a way, it's been good to be able to work on the things that maybe when you're playing tournaments you don't always have a lot of time to work on," the former No. 1 said. "So that's what I've been trying to do."