US OPEN

September 10, 2005

Kim Clijsters

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't know. I don't know. I haven't thought about it, so I have no idea.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, no idea. No. You know, that's not really on my mind at the moment so...

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, no, that was -- I don't know, I just didn't want to be standing out there by myself, I guess, after the game. And, you know, I just ran. As soon as I looked over to them, you know, I just wanted to, yeah, hug them. So I just decided to run up there. I don't know where I was going, what I was doing. So I just -- luckily, I made it back okay, I made it back safe.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, it means a lot. I think the feeling is definitely very comparable to my first, you know, championships that I won. You know, especially when you're so young and, you know, winning it then, it was incredible. So this is definitely, you know -- those two, I think, compare. They're very comparable, I think. Especially this one, after the injury, maybe a little bit more, but yeah.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, that was fine. You know, it was -- all the people were helping me, they were all holding my hand. No, I'm sure I was in safe hands out there (smiling).

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, you know, I thought, you know -- I knew that -- I think for everything, there's a time and a place, you know, for everything. Maybe it wasn't my time yet, you know, at those -- in those Grand Slams. You know, but especially losing those Grand Slams and, you know, not just the finals but also, you know, losing to Serena in Australia, those definitely motivate you to work harder and to work on a lot of things. I think everything together, you know, it was, you know -- sometimes, of course, I got a little frustrated every time, you know, I got asked in press conferences about, you know -- and I had the idea that the media was making more of it, like a bigger deal of it than I was. I was very motivated and I was, you know, like I said, working hard to try to do it. So, yeah, now you don't have to ask that anymore, but I'm sure you'll find something new to ask (laughing).

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I think so. I mean, if I look back now, I think everything that happened there, uhm, happened for a reason. Maybe that's why I'm sitting here now, you know, with this trophy next to me. I think so, yeah, I definitely think it all worked out very good for me.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Until I finished that last shot, obviously, you know, you don't want to think ahead. I knew I was feeling the ball well, I was moving well, and I think that's something that I was definitely missing in my previous Grand Slams, is that I didn't really, especially the last three, I didn't feel like I was moving well, at all. My movement, you know -- like, I also feel a lot fitter and I recovered very well after Venus and after Maria's match. But, you know, I think that definitely, you know, my movement was there today, and that's very important for me. If I move well, that's when I'm confident, and that's when I can just sort of let my strokes and my shots go as well.

KIM CLIJSTERS: What did I prove? I don't know. You know, I just think that, you know -- I just, yeah, just proved myself, you know, that I can do it and that I'm up there with the best of them. But, you know, like I said, it's all the hard work and everything, that's more satisfying to me, you know; it's paid off. You know, I said that there's been a lot of, you know, very boring weeks when I was injured, when I was in the plasters, you know, trying to recover, and doing all these crazy exercises from starting to move your fingertips to, you know, whatever, just all those. And they're very frustrating. But you just have to be patient. But that's something that, you know, you just can't do all those things yourself; you have to have your family, your friends to help you, to push you, you know, to go for it. It's not just me, it's teamwork, I think.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't know. Physically, I feel stronger, too, than what I was. You know, I've had, you know, some tough matches, especially the last two have been -- the previous ones have been tough. But I never had any, you know -- I was a little bit stiff in my lower back or anything, but nothing really tremendous that would stop me from being able to move as well as I did today. So that's a good feeling to have. And, you know, going out on court, knowing that, is already a big advantage, I think. So, yeah, I think, you know, I've been working a lot on my running and just physically to try to be stronger.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't know. I don't know anymore. I just -- I didn't know what I did. I just, yeah. I mean, they asked me straight after the match in a couple of TVs that I did on the court, "What was your first thought?" I'm like, I don't know my first thought anymore. It's pretty bad, actually, because I want to know how it felt, but I can't.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Two years is still long. You know, it's still -- it's not like I'm quitting, you know -- maybe I should. Maybe I should quit in two weeks or something (smiling). No, I'm just going to, you know, first just go out tonight, have some fun and, you know, I want to go home, too, just spend time with my family and friends and just relax. Because I've had -- I've been really, really focused these last eight weeks or ever since -- after Fed Cup, we won in Belgium, I came to America, was in New Jersey. There, too, I was working hard. It was a little bit more relaxing but still focusing on the hard court season. I think just my whole mindset has been very focused on this whole trip.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah. You know, I just wanted to, you know, thank the people, I think, you know, especially in that kind of situation. You know, I just didn't want to be out there and, you know, not having said anything, you know, also towards Mary, just show a little bit of respect for her. Also for my box, for the people in Belgium, my family in Belgium and everything. I know everybody's been up and, you know, it's the middle of the night. I think they were all watching it. So I just grabbed my chance, I guess (smiling).

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, no, he's at home. He's looking after our five dogs. So that's the deal, you know. If my sister and my mom are here, my dad was there. You know, my mom was looking after the dogs. It's tough, but the dogs are our babies, so, you know, we have to divide all the attention a little bit to them, too.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Oh, my God. I had like, I don't know, 75 messages on my phone when I looked. I was like, "How many people have my number?" I said I didn't even know. I spoke to my dad, I spoke to Brian, yeah, so...

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't know. I don't know.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Is this the question that's going to be asked of me now (laughing)?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Okay, well, you were quick (smiling). No, you know, obviously, my attitude has always been that way, like I want -- I've always said that, no matter where I play, my next tournament is going to be Luxembourg, and even there my attitude is going to be the same - I'm going to work hard and just out of respect for the tournament, for the people, too. Like I think that's -- and for me. I'm just going to go out there and play my best and give myself 100%. I do that every week. And, you know, obviously sometimes at practice there's days where you don't feel like practicing and you take things a little bit easily, a little bit more easy. But that's my attitude. That won't change after this, no.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Who thinks that?

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't know. Maybe this tournament, yeah.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't know (smiling).

KIM CLIJSTERS: I like you (smiling). You were the one -- you asked me --

KIM CLIJSTERS: That's right.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Uhm, I don't know. I've never thought about that, so maybe that's a -- you know, you're bringing me new ideas. No, I enjoy playing soccer. I definitely love watching soccer. Women's soccer is not, you know -- definitely in Belgium, it's not such a big sport, but I do love it. I think it's a great game. And, you know, so... yeah.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Sorry?

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't think so. I don't think so (smiling).

KIM CLIJSTERS: I mean, there were definitely days after, you know, when the doctors say like, you know, "It's going to be very tough for you, maybe not to quit, but to reach that same level again," and, you know, that's very frustrating to hear. In a way, you hear it and it sort of goes in and out because you don't want to keep thinking about, you know, the negative thoughts. So, you know, I think as soon as I heard the news, I saw some other doctors, too, and they were all sort of saying the same kind of thing. But then, you know, like I said, your mind just gets -- you just try to think positive, and that's when your family and your friends and, you know, they're very important in those kind of situations.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I think all that has definitely, you know, made me I think physically a stronger person, too. I think that's, you know, definitely in the last few matches, the biggest difference that I felt towards the other players is that in the third set against Venus, I felt physically -- I was fine. Against Maria, too. Today out there I recovered well after those two long matches. I think just knowing that, you know, there's a lot of things that I have to do to be able to play the tennis that I've played here over the last few weeks, I know that I have to, you know, just do all those things, you know. I have to do exercises for my wrist still, for my shoulders. Have massages. Just everything. I have to make sure that I do everything. I think in a way that makes me maybe a little bit more prepared, too, knowing that I've done all that so I don't have to, yeah, worry about or think that I didn't give everything that I have.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I think when I first -- after my knee and my hip injury, I think the first good feeling that I had on the court was playing Lindsay at Wimbledon. You know, although I lost, I got so many, you know -- I learned a lot out of that match, a lot of positives I took away, although I lost. It was disappointing to lose, but then I went on to play Fed Cup and played well there. Then from the minute that I stepped out in New Jersey on one of the practice courts, I was, you know, I was hitting the ball so well. I think, you know, I was very motivated and ready to go. That's something that I probably never have felt before so quickly, how it could change. And so, you know, I'm sure that the whole preparation, you know, all the tournaments leading up to, you know, the US Open, have definitely been -- have made me stronger and motivated a little bit more, too, I think. Not just in the final, but to play Venus, to play Maria, those tough matches, too.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I definitely feel like -- I mean, I'm sure my forehand has to be a little bit better than it was because I've only been hitting forehands for three months straight when I couldn't hit a backhand. Maybe that was a sign, too, you know, that I had to work on that shot. My serve is something that I've been, you know, definitely have been working on, trying to aim for targets, you know, just do a lot of those things. It helps. It definitely helps. I think the serve more and more, I think in women's tennis, has become a very strong shot. That's something that I think, you know, was missing a little bit, I think, in, you know, 2003, as well. Even though I played well and I won a lot of tournaments, I think that was definitely a part of my game, my forehand and my serve, where I could still work on a lot.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah. Yep, yep. Well, look at my arm.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Thank you.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, you know, obviously there, in that picture, I think that was taken at the French Open, where I was in a plaster, I think, up to a little above my elbow, I think. You know, it's hard. You know, I was there to watch Lleyton play, obviously. You know, it's hard sometimes to, you know, to be in that situation, too, you know. I didn't know, you know. A lot of people asking me, a lot of other players showing their support and everything, but in a lot of ways it was also very -- because I didn't know what was going to happen. Everybody was asking me questions. So, yeah, I think that's why, you know, being able to play and, you know, I started in Antwerp, I started my comeback there. It's been amazing. A lot of times, winning Indian Wells, Miami, it's just so, so hard to believe everything that I've done, I think, this year. I think that's, you know, the hard work, again. I think it pays off. It's all, you know, I can say to a lot of people, is there's tough times out there, but try to stay positive and, yeah, just try to, you know, go forward.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, no. No, not in that picture, no.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. That's all gone.