After competing for the last time on her home turf in Belgium, Kim Clijsters paid teary tribute to her local fans. Though Amelie Mauresmo won the Proximus Diamond Games and thereby the diamond-studded tennis racquet, Clijsters is more focused on the diamond engagment ring sparkling on her own left hand. She and her fiance American basketball player Brian Lynch have set their wedding date for July 14, just after Wimbledon. Apparently Clijsters enjoys pressure. Currently ranked fourth in the world, Clijsters has decided to skip the season’s second Grand Slam, Roland Garros. She plans to keep busy preparing for Wimbledon and her wedding instead.
The city of Antwerp in Belgium has honored native tennis great Kim Clijsters with a small museum of sorts, highlighting her career. Clijsters plans to retire at the end of this tennis season and Belgium wants to ensure that her legacy endures.
Beginning in February, Kim’s most important trophies and other career mementos will be housed in a showcase at the entrance to the Sportpaleis, one of Belgium’s most famous sports arenas. Included are her first WTA trophy, her US Open trophy, her number one ranking trophy, her Masters trophy, and five awards for Sportswoman of the Year in Belgium.
The “Kimuseum” will be open to fans and tourists daily in Antwerp. For her thoughts on this honor, visit Clijsters official web site at kimclijsters.com. Lawn Tennis News also offers a glimpse of Clijster’s trophies.
