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Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, who have in the past been known to have a somewhat difficult relationship, have been discussing the option to join together as a formidable force in the women’s doubles at the London 2012 Olympics. Clijsters recently said “we have to get together to discuss this, see what the possibilities are and assess how far we want to go in this.”
Henin, on the other hand, seems more willing to make it work, saying “there is a real willingness to be there.”
When Clijsters was talking to media she seemed to indicate 2012 would be her final complete season, having returned from her first retirement in the middle of last year. Kim’s daughter Jada may be set to receive a sibling after that year. “Because of my family situation, the doubles game is not something I want to get hung on too much.It would be nice of course to do it for the Olympic Games, because I tell myself that that year might be my last full season. So it would be nice to end that season in beauty.”
The superstars from Belgium were talking to media about the possibilities just prior to a exhibition match in Antwerp which Clijsters won 6-1 3-6 10-5. It was Henin’s first match since her season ending injury at Wimbledon. The injury still affects Henin, most particularly on serve, but she intends on being fit for the Australian Open. “I have had to limit myself enormously when it comes to serve,” she said. “My goal is to progress little by little, step by step. I take minimum risks. Each time that I stepped up the rhythm there was a backlash of inflammation in my elbow, as a result I had to slow down the last few weeks so that my elbow can adapt itself to this.
So my preparation didn’t progress that far, but that didn’t prevent me from working on a lot of things. I am not at all panicked or stressed with that in mind, there is still a couple of weeks left. Moreover, the beginning of a season might well serve that aim, to get back the old reflexes and rebuild things little by little.”
