Clijsters expected to shine
NEW YORK – Women’s tennis and the NFL have one thing in common: injuries galore.
Tennis seems a tame game compared with football’s violence, but there’s no shortage of aches among the women trooping into the U.S. Open on Monday with their bandages and painkillers, physical therapists and chiropractors.
Kim Clijsters, one of the few top players completely healthy at the moment, has been sizzling this summer and is favored to win her first Grand Slam championship after racking up her tour-leading sixth title. She’s rated a better bet than No. 1 seed Maria Sharapova (returning from a strained chest muscle) and the woman set to reclaim the No. 1 spot in the WTA Tour rankings on Monday, Lindsay Davenport (returning from a back injury).
Yet Clijsters, all of 22, spoke Sunday of retiring in two years because of the toll tennis has taken on her body. She’s weary of injuries and worried about how they will affect her life away from tennis in the future.
Her most serious problem last year was a torn tendon in her left wrist, which led to surgery and cost her most of the season, as well as the start of this year. She made a strong comeback when she returned to the tour in February, despite a knee injury in May.
Retirement plans can, of course, change.
Davenport, 29, spoke last year about retiring. She, too, was having enough of foot and back injuries, among others, along with repeated rehabs. But she got a second wind in her career, finished last year No. 1 and has occupied the top spot most of this year, albeit without winning a Grand Slam title since the Australian in 2000. She’s come close twice this year, reaching the finals of the Australian and Wimbledon.
Serena and Venus Williams have had more than their share of injuries the past few years, but both will playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium today. Officials want to feature the former two-time champions, seeded eighth and 10th, respectively, early on – since they could clash in the fourth round.
French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain, seeded No. 2 in the men’s draw behind Wimbledon champ Roger Federer, also will play on the main stadium court during the afternoon. The night belongs to Sharapova and Andre Agassi.
Federer, Andy Roddick and Davenport begin playing on Tuesday.