Dopo ben sette anni Kim Clijsters è tornata a disputare un torneo nel circuito WTA. La ex numero uno al mondo è stata battuta per 6-2 7-6 (8/6) dalla spagnola Garbiñe Muguruza (WTA 16) nel primo turno a Dubai. Confrontata con la finalista degli ultimi Australian Open, la 36enne belga ha mostrato un livello promettente per la continuazione della stagione, il cui prossimo passo dovrebbe essere a Monterrey, in Messico, all'inizio di marzo.
Per Clijsters si tratta del secondo ritorno all'attività agonistica dopo quello del 2009. Nel 2007 si era infatti ritirata per la prima volta in seguito alla prima gravidanza e il suo comeback, a 26 anni, era stato devastante con i quarti di finale a Cincinnati, gli ottavi a Montréal e il titolo agli US Open. Attualmente madre di tre figli e con l'età avanzata (per una tennista) ha comunque proposto un match in crescita, costringendo la spagnola agli straordinari, rimontando dallo 0-3 nel secondo set e portandola sino a un combattuto tie-break.
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