Former number one Clijsters set to announce return

Former world number one Kim Clijsters will announce her plans for the 2009 WTA season amidst rumours of her return to full competition.

Former world number one Kim Clijsters will announce on Thursday her plans for the 2009 WTA season amidst rumours the Belgian 25-year-old is set to return to full competition.

Journalists have been invited to the northern Belgian city of Bree for a press conference on Thursday where the former Grand Slam winner will finally put to rest the swirling uncertainty over her future plans.

The right-hander won 34 WTA tournaments and 11 doubles’ crowns,including the 2005 US Open title when she defeated French player Mary Pierce 6-3,6-1 at Flushing Meadows.

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She lost four Grand Slam finals notably the 2003 French Open and US Open championship matches,as well as the 2004 Australian Open to compatriot and rival Justine Henin,who has also since retired.

Clijsters married American basketball player Brian Lynch in 2007 and the couple celebrated the birth of their daughter Jade Elie in February 2008,which was the initial reason for her retirement.

She was also engaged to Australian former number one Leyton Hewitt before suddenly pulling out of the relationship in 2004,shortly before the couple were due to be married.

She reached the top of the world rankings in August 2003 and had a record of 427 wins against 104 defeats as well as having the rare distinction of holding the number one spot in both singles and doubles in 2003.

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The popular Belgian has been competing in a number of exhibition events in recent months and is also set to play at an exhibition tournament this summer at Wimbledon along with Andre Agassi,Steffi Graf and Tim Henman.