"It’s not easy to come back from injuries and start from zero again" - Kim Clijsters praises Muchova and Mboko after fantastic final run in Qatar Open

There was a number of storylines being etched into the current tennis landscape in the 2026 WTA Qatar Open. Karolina Muchova and Voctoria Mboko both hugely impressed in their time in the Middle East, but it was Muchova who clinched a massive title win 6-4, 7-5. On her podcast 'All Love', four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters touched on Mboko's incredible rise while going deep into Muchova's recovery and game-style which lent to the triumph in Doha.

The Belgian was very complementary about her style of play, with the term 'variety' emphasised when discussing this topic. "The variety is only a strength if it’s used at the right time. And she has that combination — she can hit the ball flat and hard, but she also has a serve that sets up the point really well," she stated. "On your own service games, you feel pressure because she’s such a good returner and she can do so much with the ball. She can serve and volley. She can hit the forehand winner. She has all the tools that make it really tough for opponents. But again, it’s the timing of the variety. She’s a smart player. She knows when to use the slice, when to use the drop shot, when to come in."

She referenced another former Grand Slam finalist who could be put in this category. "There are players — like Ons Jabeur earlier in her career — who have a lot of variety as well. But when you have five different options on one ball — slice, drop shot, backhand angle — it can sometimes be hard to choose the best one in that moment. I think Muchová has really learned how to time her variety and make the right decision."

Clijsters continued to be positive on her game, citing what she has had to come through. "She’s also a great mover. She defends well, but from a defensive position she can suddenly become dominant. For her, the biggest challenge has been staying healthy and building physically over time," she admitted. "It’s not easy to come back from injuries and start from zero again — that can be frustrating."

The Czech has had numerous injury setbacks throughout her time as a professional, as Clijsters describes her recovery process. "She had wrist surgery in 2024, and then worked with a specialist in the Czech Republic who also operated on Petra Kvitová. After that, she came to Belgium — to my hometown, Bree — to work with Sam Verslagers, who was also my osteopath and trainer. He’s become a go-to person for wrist issues. Kei Nishikori worked with him, Zizou Bergs has, and I did my rehab there as well."

It is a first WTA 1000 title for Muchova who finally added to her maiden WTA title back in 2019. A big part of this is thanks to the coaching of Sven Groeneveld who began working with her at the start of this year.

Clijsters respected how they were taking their time to build this relationship. "That makes total sense. It’s something we don’t always think about. After a tournament win, a coach can suddenly be in every interview and podcast, and that’s not always what the player wants — especially at the beginning of a relationship. Building trust is super important. Good for him for recognising that this phase needs to be about her."

Incredibly, despite being ranked outside the top 300 at the start of 2025, Mboko is a top 10 player after slotting in at the conclusion to the Qatar Open. She joins Mirra Andreeva as the only teenagers currently in the top 10 in the world and looks to gain even more ground on her rivals.

"She’s only 19, but when you look back, she got her first wildcard at the Canadian Open at 15 and lost in the first round," reminisced Clijsters. "Those experiences matter. Being at big events, practicing with higher-ranked players, feeling like you can compete with a top-50 player — those are moments that build confidence."

The former world number one continued to dissect her game. "We see these breakthrough results now, but they’re built on years of small steps. She’s such a good mover, physically strong, mentally strong. I love watching her rip her forehand and take control of rallies."

There were even comparisons to Carlos Alcaraz. "She still has that free spirit out there. She reminds me a bit of Carlos Alcaraz when he first came on tour — just so excited to be out there playing. You see that innocence, but she’s also very locked in. It’s fun to watch."

Both players pulled out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships which is currently going on right now. They will both turn their attention to the Sunshine swing with a brace of WTA 1000 events in the USA soon to begin.