Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters makes unexpected coaching return in Paris

Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters returned to Roland Garros – the place where she reached the final twice – although this time as a coach of an American player.

It is world No. 108 Katie Volynets – 24 years old – who debuted this Monday at the French Open with a convincing victory by 6-3, 6-1 against the local player Clara Burel. The 24-year-old had the presence of Clijsters in her box and later acknowledged that she is temporarily working with her.

The former Belgian tennis player officially retired in 2022, leaving behind a career that places her among the best players of this century. Clijsters won four Grand Slam titles, reached another four finals, as well as three WTA Finals titles and seven WTA 1000 tournaments, among other achievements in her career.

Clijsters first retired in 2007 – at just 23 years old – to get married and have a daughter. She returned for a few seasons some years later and retired for a second time in 2012, spending a period of eight years away from the courts before a final comeback.

During her time away, Clijsters already ventured into coaching, when she worked with the Romanian Sorana Cîrstea during Wimbledon 2018. On that occasion, the Romanian reached the second round, and after her elimination, the relationship with Clijsters did not continue.

This time it was a complete surprise for many to see Clijsters closely following Volynets’ match from her box. The four-time major champion has remained attentive to the current Tour, with a podcast where she comments on ATP and WTA Tour news in the “Love All Podcast”, analysing the present of the main names in world tennis.

Clijsters previously admitted that she had received offers from different players to coach on the Tour, but she had not accepted any of them. However, the Belgian took a new direction by joining the team of world No. 108 Volynets, who secured a comfortable first-round win at Roland Garros – reaching the second round in Paris for the third time in her career.

“On Sunday, she came to watch me practice and we have been planning it since like last November maybe,” said Volynets in her on-court interview regarding the partnership with Clijsters. “So I was really excited and I was just trying to hit the ball like her and play some patterns like her. So, I’m just really happy to have her here, it’s amazing.”

The American – former world No. 56 – is looking to take a step forward with Clijsters in her box, and to draw on her experience to boost her career.

Although not very common, Clijsters is not the only former WTA player who has found a space as a coach again on Tour. Conchita Martínez is the most well-known case, having coached Garbiñe Muguruza and Karolína Plíšková, and more recently enjoying a successful partnership with young Mirra Andreeva over the last two years.

Other coaches include Lindsay Davenport – who has worked with Jessica Pegula as a consultant – Amélie Mauresmo, former coach of Andy Murray – Tathiana Garbin (coach of Anna Kalinskaya) – and Sandra Zaniewska, coach of recent Madrid Open champion Marta Kostyuk.