“Is this it?”: Kim Clijsters reflects on emotional void after first Grand Slam title

Kim Clijsters has revisited the immediate aftermath of her first Grand Slam title in 2005, describing a reaction defined less by sustained celebration than by relief and rapid return to routine. Speaking on the Love All Podcast, the former world No. 1 reflected on the period following her breakthrough win after four previous defeats in major finals.

Clijsters won her first Grand Slam singles title in 2005 after losing her opening four finals at the highest level: French Open (2001, 2003), US Open (2003), Australian Open (2004)

At the time, she was already established as one of the leading players on the WTA Tour, having reached No. 1 in the rankings earlier in her career, but without a major singles title.

She described the immediate post-match sequence as dominated by formal obligations, including trophy ceremonies and media duties, with limited space for reflection.

Clijsters placed her recollection in 2005, when she secured her first major singles title after reaching four prior finals without winning. She said the immediate emotional response was relief rather than extended joy, followed by a rapid return to routine tournament logistics.

The Belgian noted that once official ceremonies and interviews were completed, the experience shifted quickly to solitude and preparation for departure.

“I do think I felt very relieved that I was able to finally win one after losing my first four Grand Slam finals in singles,” Clijsters said. “You’re happy in the first few minutes, but then that feeling goes away pretty quickly, and you have all the formalities, right? That you do the trophy ceremony, you have your interviews that you do.”

“And I remember that night just getting back to my hotel room and just sitting in my hotel room by myself. I wasn’t married yet. I didn’t have Jada or anything. It was just me in my hotel room, and everybody from the team went to their room. I just sat there and started packing because I was flying home the next day.”

She also referenced the physical remnants of competition still present in that moment, including match clothing and equipment, as part of the contrast between achievement and routine departure.

“And I was like, is this what it was like for Steffi? That serious player, because I was a little girl. I was like, I want to win a Grand Slam like she did. And I want to become number one one day. And then I sat there and I was like, huh, this is it. I won. And look at me, like I have my dirty clothes here. I’ve got my sweaty outfit from earlier. And then, yeah, I got to pack everything for tomorrow.”

Clijsters reached the No. 1 ranking for the first time in 2003 and was already among the established figures on the WTA Tour by the time of her 2005 Grand Slam breakthrough. She had previously reached multiple major finals without converting them into titles, a sequence she directly referenced when describing the emotional weight of the win.

She said the recognition following a major title persisted in professional environments, particularly during subsequent tournaments where champions are formally introduced with their recent achievements. However, she described the internal competitive environment as quickly shifting focus to results.

“I don’t think the glow lasted very long. I do think in general people for a long time congratulate you, and it’s really nice. Like when you go to the next tournament and then they announce you as the US Open champion, like those were moments where I was like, oh wow, like that sounds really great. But I don’t want to lose now because that will make it look like… so you constantly have that inner voice battle.”

Clijsters also referenced her decision to step away from the tour not long after her 2005 success, linking it to a sense of completion at the time rather than ongoing pursuit of results.

“Not long after I won in 2005, I retired from playing. To me, like I said, it was such a relief and that I felt like, okay, all this other BS, like I did what I wanted to do in tennis. I was number one. I won a Slam now and I just don’t want to deal with all the other BS that comes with it.”