By Etienne Stekelenburg
February 25 2003

A handwritten statement about the alleged smear campaign against Kim was sent to the Belga press agency. It all started after the family announced a possible Australian citizenship for Kim for tax reasons. Leo Clijsters didn’t say who would be boycotted but knew who wrote nonsense about Kim. Patrick Dewael, a minister from Flanders the region where Clijsters lives, suggested the idea of a tax reduction plan for top athletes who earn a lot of money like Kim Clijsters. The family does not like the way their name is used in this issue and the press according to Leo Clijsters abused Kim’s name in this matter.

Kim, who is having a relation with the Australian No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, supposedly one time said she would be better off living in Australia because of the high tax rates in Belgium.

De Wael’s proposal to give tax reductions to Belgium international top athletes who earn a lot of money was rejected by the Financial Minister of Belgium Didier Reynders. Clijsters did not mention how much the family was upset by De Waels idea and the press coverage that followed.

Leo Clijsters did not say whether the whole issue had influenced Kim’s tennis but he did express his feeling that Kim could very well be ending her tennis career within the next three years if the season schedule is staying hectic as it is right now.