Kim Clijsters knows her opponent in Chicago, so opens up to my husband’s partner Elise Mertens | Tennis

This will be Clijsters’ fourth match since her comeback in February 2020. The previous match is over a year ago. At the 2020 US Open, she lost 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the first round to Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova (WTA-34). She had previously lost in Dubai 6-2 7-6 (8/6) to Spain’s Garbine Muguruza (WTA-9) and in Muterre 6-3 7-5 to Britain’s Joanna Konta (WTA-81). If Clijsters can overcome Hsieh, she will face Tunisia’s Anas Jabeur (WTA-17) in the second round (Final 1/16), where she will face the sixth seed Freestyle in the first round.

For seventh seed Elise Mertens (WTA-18), the tournament also begins in the second round only. In it she meets the French Alizé Cornet (WTA-69) or the Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska (WTA-53). Clijsters and Flipkins could only meet in the final.

Kirsten Flipkens (WTA-137) is also trying to qualify for the hard court tournament, which is worth $565,530. The 35-year-old Kempensee hit American Madison Beckham’s scale in the first round of qualifying with two goals 6-0 on Saturday (without standings). For Flipkens, it was the first match since the WTA in Miami, at the end of March. Due to an ankle injury, she missed the Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Olympics and US Open.

Then still “Kimback”? Clijsters will be in action in Chicago at the end of this month