WIMBLEDON

June 25, 2002

Kim Clijsters

KIM CLIJSTERS: I know this year like has been a very tough year for me because I've had my arm injury. You know, I sort of have to look for a good schedule and a good balance between enough rest and playing. Definitely today wasn't my best tennis, but it was good enough to go through. I think that's the most important now, that I sort of raised my level the longer I'm in the tournament. I think that's the most important.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I definitely didn't feel very comfortable on my return games. I felt pretty comfortable on my serve games. I served well today, and that helped me to get out of some breakpoints. So that was good. But I definitely didn't feel very comfortable returning today.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Actually, I had a coach for these two weeks. His name is Harry. He's from Austria. He's been helping me out these two weeks. He's going to help me out these two weeks. So, yeah, it's been good. A new face next to the court. And it helps. You know, it gives me more motivation. And also working off the court, you know, it's different. It's something new. Maybe that changes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I mean, it's still there. You know, I'm going to have another MRI after Wimbledon probably, see how it goes. I've had a few MRIs. It's been getting better slowly, like better every few months, but it's still there. I certainly don't want to play too much so that it comes back because it's still very sensitive at the moment.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes. I'm sick of it (laughter). No, but, I mean, it helps. The way I feel now, like I said, I'm serving better than I was even before I had my injury. So, I mean, it's definitely helped me a lot, and that's what keeps me going. Sometimes it gets a bit boring, doing it like the same every day. With the physios, the WTA physios, they try to build a mixture of exercises so I can do like not always the same, so it's good.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I mean, I've worked enough. When I've had time off, when I was resting for my shoulder, I've worked on the things where I didn't have to use my arm. I was running a lot, riding the bike, doing those things a lot, sprints and everything. I think definitely -- physically I think I'm definitely stronger than I was before I had my arm injury.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Maybe, yeah. Also like on clay, I felt, you know, with the high balls and the points, they take a bit longer. It puts a lot more pressure I think on my arm. Especially the way I play, you know, all my shots I used more my arm than some other players. Yeah, you know, but definitely here on the grass, shorter points. If I serve well, I get quicker points, so it definitely helps.

KIM CLIJSTERS: It's funny, we don't even talk that much about tennis. There's always something, like you talk about something. We don't really go -- you know, he goes his way, he has his coaches, I've got my coach. We sort of do those things with the people that are around us.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Sorry for my language, but it's not true. I don't know where they get it from. I think by now we've been engaged a few times, we've been divorced, we've been married. I don't know where they get that from.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Both. I've never been to the Eiffel Tower. I live three hours from Paris, I've never been to the Eiffel Tower. It's not true. I don't know where they get it from. Got no idea. It even surprised me, so (laughter).

KIM CLIJSTERS: You know, I just have a laugh at it, I think. But it was actually funny. On my birthday, people congratulating me. I thought it was for my birthday. These people were actually congratulating me because they thought we were engaged. I mean, I laugh at it. I think you guys have to sell things, as well. But, yeah, it's...

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, it's definitely helped me a lot, especially with my dad, because he's been in the soccer world. He knows a lot, you know. I think me and my dad, we have a very good relationship. You know, he knows what's best for me, and he helps me out. You know, he knows that when I'm home, I don't want to do too many things. When I'm home, I want to rest. I try to do the things when I'm away. You know, when I'm home, I've got friends, I like to do things that normal teenager does. And for my dad also, I think the most important is that I enjoy myself. I don't play tennis to be, you know, on TV all the time and to be in the magazines. I play tennis because I enjoy it. And these things come with it.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, he's always said you know, that you have to enjoy yourself when you're on the court. If you enjoy yourself, then the results will come automatically and you'll play better. My parents have never, ever put pressure on me about playing tennis or about doing something else. They said, "If you don't want to play tennis, you want to go swimming, whatever, can you do whatever you want to do."

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, you know, when we went to dinners, they asked him for autographs when I was younger.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. Maybe like when I was younger, I think like the spotlights were a little bit more -- when I was playing, say, like the under-12 tournaments in Belgium, the spotlights were maybe a little bit more on us because my dad was more famous. But I've never, ever felt like I had to "achieve something" because my dad was famous, no.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I love playing the Grand Slams, and especially this one - because I did so well here. I started with the juniors. Especially the Juniors, I made the finals. I've played well here. When I was younger, I qualified -- when I was 16, I qualified, lost to Steffi Graf in the fourth round. So I really feel like, you know, I have fun here, like I enjoy being out here. But everything, the atmosphere, the crowd and everything is just like makes it even more enjoyable.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes, last year.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I like it. It's a closed court. I saw like there were a few Belgians and even a few Australians supporting me. No, it was good. You feel like the crowd is closer to you. So I like that.