Kim Clijsters refuses 2021 Australian Open wild card

Former world no. 1 and the 2011 Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters will not compete in Melbourne next February, refusing the organizers' wild card and skipping the Melbourne Park action for the ninth straight year.

The four-time Major champion retired after the US Open 2012, working on her Academy and different players. Out of a sudden, Kim announced her comeback at the end of 2019, hitting the practice court again and hoping to make a return at the Australian Open. The Belgian couldn't make a comeback at the Australian Open due to a knee injury, taking more time to get back at her 100% and not rushing anything on her second comeback to the WTA Tour.

A few weeks later, Clijsters was ready to return in Dubai, losing in the opening match to Garbine Muguruza and suffering a similar defeat to Johanna Konta in Monterrey in March. The three-time US Open champion entered her favorite Major for the first time since 2012, giving her best against Ekaterina Alexandrova but falling in three sets.

It was the last match of the season for the Belgian, and it is uncertain when we will see her on the court again, as she decided to refuse the Australian Open wild card and avoid a long trip and all the safety measures imposed by the organizers.

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Kim's last Australian Open match came nine years ago, losing in the semi-final to Victoria Azarenka after previously beating Li Na and Caroline Wozniacki.