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Is it just me or do those gorgeous pictures of Kim Clijsters and her little girl Jada, celebrating her extraordinary US Open victory, bring a tear to the eye? Now I admit I am a big softie and frankly will cry at the slightest provocation these days. I think having children suddenly makes you weep uncontrollably at the sight of anything remotely gooey. And I have always had a tendency to get tearful in the moment of an epic sports victory or defeat, no matter who it may be. But Clijsters’ achievement rendered me truly dumbstruck.
I speak from weary experience when I say how hard it is to run a normal life with two children. But the notion of having a baby and then returning to professional sport and joining an international tour, remains slightly insane to me. Messing with a small person’s sleeping and eating patterns is, forgive the pun, a recipe for disaster. And yet Clijsters was able to do that, as well as return to physical and emotional shape to win a Grand Slam after 27 months out of tennis. That really is an incredible achievement.
Now she may and probably does have a small army of helpers behind her for one thing. Fair enough. And you could argue that the fact she did return in such gloriously victorious fashion reflects negatively on the level of women’s tennis in general. That is another issue and worth discussing by the way. But putting all of that to one side, fair play to the woman. I am in awe. It almost made me reach for my tennis racquet….. until I recalled the humiliation of my last foray onto the tennis court. Let’s just say that in my mind’s eye I can still play with all the panache and flair I showed in getting to round 3 of the 1983 Perranporth Lawn Tennis Championships…… the reality however, is slightly different.
And speaking of true champions I must say I was also delighted to see Juan Martin Del Potro win the men’s title at Flushing Meadows. I must confess my admiration for Federer was dimmed somewhat by his embroidered tracksuit top antics in the immediate aftermath of his Wimbledon triumph this year. I felt it was a little disrespectful to Andy Roddick, given the nature of their epic encounter. I’d love to know what you think. Anyone for tennis?
Tags: US Open Tennis, WTA, Kim Clijsters, Wimbledon, Roger Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro
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Aaww bless, that's lovely Sue. I think Jada is saying to mummy..."look Mummy, what are all those noughts up there on that giant T.V. screen"? and Kim is saying..."Oh darling, that's just Mumm'y bank balance going up and up and up, look honey, here's your new potty I promised you!!!"...................Great to see her back and winning Sue, at least she smiles frequently, unlike most of the other miserable bleeders!..............