"Maybe Wim [Fissette] or somebody could be the next step for Amanda” - Kim Clijsters believes Iga Swiatek's former coach could be perfect match for Anisimova

Kim Clijsters was following the Miami Open from a distance, watching the best tennis players compete for one of the coveted prizes. A lot of storylines were written in this period. She would discuss some of these on the Love All Podcast. From late drama on court to coaching change off the court, the Belgian covered all grounds as the Sunshine swing came to a swift conclusion.

It was heartbreak for Tommy Paul at the Miami Open. After setting himself up with four match points to book his spot in the semi-finals, Frenchman Arthur Fils came charging back. He won six points on the spin to take down his opponent in a totally brutal fashion.

Clijsters had the chance to ask Paul about how he coped. "After a difficult loss, he didn’t sleep at all that night," she said. "But the next day, he said it really helped to be surrounded by people he loves—friends and family. He even went out to support his fiancée, Paige Lorenze, at one of her Dairy Boy pop-ups in South Florida. He admitted there might have been some alcohol involved that night, but ultimately said being around loved ones helped him move on week to week."

The Belgian had herself felt a lot of pain from painful results in the past, having time to get over it in a world different from today. "Grand Slam losses early in my career—especially finals—would stay with me for a few days, sometimes even longer. They sit in the back of your mind. What I found hardest was going back home. In Belgium, you felt a lot of support, but back then there was no social media—just newspapers and headlines."

Especially around certain members of her family, it was tough to admit defeat. "Going to see my grandparents after a trip. They were my biggest fans, but they had no filter. They’d just say, “Why did you lose?”—especially matches against Justine Henin. And I’d be like, “Well, she played well, I didn’t—I’m sorry. They were heartbroken because they wanted it so badly for me. It was tough, but after a while, it could make you laugh."

The chance to escape the clutches of that pain and move on to different tasks is something that comes quickly in this sport. "The good thing about tennis is that you get another opportunity very quickly—sometimes just a few weeks later," she admitted. "You can stay disappointed, but the longer you stay in that negative mindset, the more it hurts your next tournament. For me, getting back on the practice court and focusing on what’s coming next was always the best way to move on."

After a slow start to 2026, Anisimova decided to part ways with coach Rick Vleeshouwers after a hugely successful stint. The pair got together halfway through 2024, coinciding with when the American would start to make an impression in the sport. Two Grand Slam finals and two Masters 1000 triumphs all represent a fast rise in the sport to become one of the best players in the world.

This season has not been at that same level of success with Clijsters hinting that Iga Swiatek's former coach, Wim Fissette, could be in the running to take over. “We will see what will happen, maybe Wim [Fissette] or somebody could be the next step for Amanda,” Clijsters said. "There are a lot of good coaches out there, we will see.”

She shared her opinions on Vleeshouwers, a coach she knows fairly well, and his impact on Anisimova. “I always said, I think I would really have enjoyed having him on the sideline, because he’s somebody who makes you feel like you’re the only player for him,” she commented.

“The confidence that he gives you, and he is… he lives for his player, during those times that he works with you. I think that’s a great skill, and he’s very passionate about his job and doing everything you need to do to have the best results. I do think that he came into Amanda’s career at the perfect time, to help her build confidence as a player, but also outside, because it’s connected.”

When she found out the news, Clijsters was quick to message him. “I actually texted him when I read the news, texted him about how great of a ride they had together,” she said. “They ended everything on a good note, with a lot of respect for each other, and gratitude for what they achieved together, and we will see where that will take him.”

There is now a very high calibre on the market ready to get snatched up by another opportunistic tennis player. Clijsters put forward one of her own. “I know we have a young Belgian, Jeline Vandromme, who won the US Open last year, who is a great player, who is looking for a coach,” she stated. “She did hit with him in my academy too, so that might be a little pair up, coming up.”

In her tennis career, Clijsters acknowledged that she had a whole bunch of superstitions regularly used at tournaments. "Oh, so many—I could probably write a book about them," she joked. "Everything had to be the same. Nobody could touch my rackets or grips once they were done. They had to be in a certain order. At the US Open, I had my favourite shower. That started in 2005 when I won my first title there. After that, I always wanted to use the same one—even if I had to wait. In my mind, if I changed something—used a different shower, ate the wrong thing—it increased my chances of losing. It sounds extreme, but that’s how it felt."

She is not the only one to have loads of superstitions. There is a reason behind all of this madness. "Tennis has so many uncontrollables—match timing, conditions, everything. So you try to hold on to small things you can control, whether it’s your bag, your hotel room, or your locker. Looking back, I think the pressure made me more superstitious. I wouldn’t say I’m like that now, but at the time, it helped me stay locked in."

The four-time Grand Slam champion has enjoyed a lot of success in the sport, but not all of that was due to her coaches telling her what to do, with the fans sometimes getting involved. "Sometimes you could feel certain fans were really on your side. I remember at the US Open, I’d even ask someone in the crowd, “Where should I serve?” and they’d say, 'Down the T.' I’d go for it, hit a good serve, and look back at them like, “Got you.” It was fun—it helped me relax and connect with the crowd."