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Lei Talks Kim January 12, 2002 De Standaard by Joe Segaert In a certain way one could state that with the Australian Open the season of the truth has started for Kim Clijsters. The three times consecutive winner of the Belgian Sports Woman of the Year battled her way up to the absolute top of the world in 2001. The 18 year old from Limburg is bound to become the biggest ever sports woman of Belgian sports history if she manages to grab a permanent position in the top five of women’s tennis this year. Unless of course she soon would decide to stop playing tennis, "knowing Kim, that is really possible," says Lei Clijsters. Dad Clijsters had almost a full time job during last month replacing Kim at various events that honoured Kim with a sports award of some kind while his daughter was on vacation in Australia. The former football player is used to play the agent, he even has a certain reputation when it comes to keep off everybody trying to seize his daughter. "I am not liked? That is a good sign. The day that people will think that I am sympathetic things will look bad for Kim. You really can’t imagine. There are people asking for an autograph when you are eating quietly on restaurant, who ring the door bell early in the morning asking for a pic with Kim, there are companies who think they can steal a bit of her success for free, there is the press wanting exclusive interviews each time, not to mention sports associations, the government and even the Royal Court. Logical that someone keeps a bit of order in all of that. I have to disappoint lots of people and am the bad guy many times, but I do like to fulfil that role." It is remarkable that fathers of top tennis players rarely have a good name. Damir Dokic is a jerk, Richard Williams is a boaster and Stefano Capriati a dictator. "Ah, Damir isn’t such a bully. He sometimes drinks too much and than he says stupid things, but he is a good guy in fact. Richard Williams is splendid. He backs up his daughters for 100% and is convinced that they are better than the rest. That is allowed, though. Sometimes he is into extremes in certain matters but I can have that. A bit of life in the tour is okay. And Stefano Capriati? He is the nicest of all! Knows tennis inside out and occasionally gives Kim good advice. I don’t believe that he would be a dictator. But it is true that he is not liked in the tour but that is a plus. The WTA wants to impose all kinds of rules for everything, sometimes it is verging on the ridiculous." You also don’t have a very good understanding with sports associations like the Flemish Tennis Association and the Olympic Committee for instance. "I don’t doubt the good intentions of these people, but when I hear the President of the Belgian Olympic Committee claiming that they have supported Kim financially last year… Where does he get that!? When the Games came up for discussion, I found out that I had to pay the expenses (note: hotel) of the coach myself. I find that difficult. Certainly when you know that they invite their Vips at a cost of € 500 a day. Furthermore I don’t like the contract that has to be signed for the Games this year. It says that the sponsors of the Belgian Olympic Committee have rights on the Olympic athletes. But our contracts with our sponsors clearly state that we cannot close deals with a rival sponsor." So Kim will also not participate at the upcoming Games? "That I don’t know. The Games have a certain prestige. I am sure that Kim would like to participate but the conditions must be realistic. Just like we may have troubles regarding the next Fed Cup. The first round in April, when Australia will come to Belgium, should be possible. The second, mid July, against Italy or Sweden, will be another thing. In that period Kim is obliged to play the tournament in Stanford which she won last year. Probably she will have to forfeit for the Fed Cup then. The final in November shouldn’t be a problem though." You still have a big influence on her and her schedule. Is it difficult to let go of your daughter? "Kim is my daughter, not my property. My child has became a woman. I now already slowly let go of her. I think that it is fantastic that she is independent and that she is happy. She is now in Australia and has a good time. It reminds me somehow of my time when I was a 16-year old going to play soccer away from home. I had no trouble with that. Kim has a second home down under. The Hewitts are excellent company. She lives her life and we respect that. Our task is almost fulfilled." But you do have a great part in the tennis success of Kim? "Success has many fathers and in this case one mother. My wife has driven each year around 100,000 km to tournaments and training with Kim and Elke. Marc Van Kerckhoven is the man who learned Kim the basic techniques and Carl Maes has brought her from a talented teenager to a mature tennis woman. I have always supported her, through everything. But real achievements: no." Which values have you passed on to Kim? "Certainly no material ones. It may sound a bit clichéd but money is really not the most important. We have never held out to her that she had to reach the top because she could grab lots of money or live in luxury like that. But that she had to try to be happy in what she did. Kim has remembered that lesson very well. She is a lively girl who loves playing tennis and does everything to win. At the same time she has a natural carelessness inside. How bigger the pressure, the more relaxed she is. She still plays for pleasure." One doesn’t see much of that on court. "That’s right. When she plays it is war, but as soon as the match is over she is friendliness itself. Kim has a very good reputation with her competitors. She likes to play with the dogs of Sanchez and Mauresmo, but that doesn’t hold her back to hammer them a bit later." You have two daughters who play tennis: the one is successful, the other not (yet). Doesn’t that cause tension? "Certainly not. Kim and Elke get on very well together. Sometimes Elke can be a bit upset if people ask her only questions about Kim because she also plays tennis after all. But among themselves there is no envy. And regarding my wife and I: we are equally proud of Elke as of Kim." You know the football world and also the tennis world. Could you compare the two sports? "Football players are pampered. Everything is done for them, they only have to concentrate on their sport. Physically it means something though because it is a contact sport. Nevertheless the physical performances required of tennis players are higher. It is also more difficult to get to the top because it is an individual sport." Kim doesn’t do badly. She is a one million dollar club member and all of that in one year’s time. She is without doubt the best earning 18 year old in Belgium? "That might well be true. I have not thought of that yet. I know though that I always repeat the same thing, but please don’t be blinded by all that prize money. Half goes off. On top of that take another € 375,000 into account for her and her coach Carl Maes to cover all kinds of expenses or costs such as travel, hotels, food, phone calls, the contract with the coach. You will have totally different figures. But she doesn’t complain of course."