By Etienne Stekelenburg
October 22 2003

Life for Kim Clijsters is different from before her No. 1 ranking on the tour. Being in the spotlight as a number one brings along other duties than just playing tennis. Recent problems with the Belgian press, who according to Clijsters don’t seem to appreciate two Belgian players at the top, were not there when she was busy working her way to the top.

Now that she is there she said that has no clue why the press is writing them down. She said the problems occur in every job whether you are a secretary of something else, the only thing that is different that there is no press to write bad about it.

Clijsters sees her fellow countrywoman Henin-Hardennne as both a friend and a fellow tennis player. "It is a sort of combination'. She can get along with all of the players on the tour and she picked out Jennifer Capriati being the one she gets along most. "Tennis is also a learning experience" she added, "dealing with other players and the media"

Clijsters does practice with her boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt but they never compete each other only in a two against one they take up a match. She gains a lot by practicing with Hewitt because he can return like no women on the tour would ever return.

After the last defeats at the Grand Slam there was talk of Kim Clijsters being a choker. She said that at the US Open Serena Williams played not good at the beginning of the match and played great later on as the match progressed. It looked like Kim Clijsters was beginning to lose her game; in fact Serena William got the better hand of the game and outplayed Serena on her own merit. "At the French Open I was just burned out" she said about her defeat there.

When she was asked about if she was a true No. 1 of the world Kim said that a number one also need to stay fit and play consistent. "That is also important so I think I deserve the No. 1 at the ranking".

In the meantime a new house is build for Kim in her hometown Bree. In the same street where she grow up. She does like to live close to her relatives and friends. "I also know everything to find in the supermarket and its nice to walk my dog without bothering the neighborhood. They all know me and I can do what I want to do". She also bought a washing machine so she has wash her own clothes as soon as she starts living in the new house.

By the end of November she moves to Australia and plays the Hopman Cup. It might be possible she has to play Lleyton Hewitt for the first time. They have played doubles together but not against each other. The always have loads of fun when they play together at one time she had to stop during play while she had stomach cramps from laughing.

Kim’s right-ankle injury is getting better although it still hurts a bit and to prevent a bigger injury it has to be taped. She sprained it while walking down the stairs but the injury got worse when her ankle sprained again during the match in Leipzig. She tried to continue the match for the fans but had to retire after a few rallies.