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12/22 - Thanks Ingrid
KIM IS SPORTS WOMAN OF THE YEAR FOR 3rd TIME
BRUSSELS - Kim Clijsters has been chosen by more than two hundred sports journalists and over twenty former winners as Sports Woman of the Year 2001.
For Kim it is the third win of the title in a row.
The journalists didn't leave some doubt about who was to be crowned. Clijsters got an absolute majority behind her name; even 162 times the first spot on 235 valid ballot bills. With such a supremacy one hardly can miss the victory.
Clijsters won with 995 points, Justine Henin received 788 (but only 21 first spots vs the 162 on Kim), judo champion Gella Vandecaveye (with 29 first spots) 614 points.
"I really didn't expect it this year," reacts Clijsters after her third title. "I am completely taken by surprise."
The success of Belgian tennis was completed by the election of the Fed Cup team as Sports Team of the Year. The team received three times more votes than the Belgian national soccer team.
LOSING REACTIONS
De Standaard - Number 2: Henin: "Unimportant." Justine Henin was disappointed. More than she herself would admit that. "I know what improvement I have made this year. That is far more important than such a prize." Quite bitter. She had obviously given herself a serious chance. "Based on the Grand Slams I had to be the Sports Woman of the Year, but it seems that the ranking has settled the matter… Je m'en fous (I don't give a damn)," sneered Henin and off she was.
Number 3: Vandecaveye (judo): "For five or ten years?'' European champion, world champion, not lost a single match in 2001. In Belgium you end up third in the Sports Woman of the Year referendum. "Ach, that will not change the coming 5 or 10 years for sure, no,'' said Gella Vandecaveye laughing. "Suppose that the two tennis girls should drop in the world rankings, even then I will have to deliver a very strong season. And in 2002 I only have the European championships where I could excel."
ANTWERP UPDATE
The Belgian tournament, set to start February 8th, is already pulling in the stars. Besides Kim, Jelena Dokic, Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo and Serena Williams have signed on to compete. Wildcards have been granted to 3 belgians so far: Els Callens, Laurence Courtois (should she be up to it), and Kim's little sister, Elke Clijsters. There is one more wildcard up for grabs.
"FLEMISH TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR" AGAIN
Het Belang van Limburg, December 15, 2001 -
Kim Clijsters has been elected in the Flemish Parliament this Saturday as Flemish Tennis Player of the Year, for the 3rd time in a row. Clijsters won 1134 votes, Xavier Malisse 976 and Els Callens 911. This is her forth trophy this year, after the Trophy of Sports Merit, the Flemish Giant and the Flemish Sports Juwel. Clijsters ended the year as world number 5. Kirsten Flipkens received the title of Flemish Promising Youngster of the Year. She was followed in the referendum by Elke Clijsters and Niels Desein.
LEI TALKS...SO WHAT'S NEW!
Flemish national TV1 news, December 11, 2001 -
Lei Clijsters has not much free time these days as he has to pick up all of Kim's recent trophies since Kim is presently in Australia. Clijsters' quotes, "Nevertheless it is becoming a lot, although it is each time again a crowning of a splendid year. As such you don't get tired of it. Although I am getting a bit tired of picking up the trophies as I don't really enjoy talking to the cameras and don't really like standing on a platform, those days are gone for me. I hope that Kim and Lleyton Hewitt come together as fast as possible and if she then wins something later on, then they may do the honors."
KIM WINS THE "FLEMISH SPORTS JUWEL"
Sports24, December 11, 2001 - Kim Clijsters is the winner of the Flemish Sports Juwel 2001. That is obviously no surprise at all. The Flemish Minister of Sports Bert Anciaux has presented the Flemish Sports Awards 2001 Tuesday night at an encounter with the Flemish sports world at the Brussels Residence Palace. The Flemish Sports Juwel, that honours a Flemish sports(wo)man who has delivered a remarkable result during the year or who has ended an exceptional sports career, went to tennis star Kim Clijsters.
NOW ONTO A DRIVER'S LISCENSE
Belgian Tennis Magazine (November) -
A car constructor, Mitsubishi, has joined the list of Kim's sponsors. They have signed a contract for two years, immediately including a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero at Kim's disposal.
"I have successfully passed my theoretical exam through a second attempt, I still have to do the real driving exam to get my driver's license," said Kim laughing.
After Siemens and Sanex, Mitsubishi now belongs to the sponsor group of Clijsters.
According to the contract, Kim only has to keep three days a year available for the car constructor, while it is 4 days a year for co-sponsors Siemens and Sanex.
"There are enough candidates who want to close a deal with Kim, but it is now quite enough," says Lei.
"She has already so many duties and a lot of commitments… Kim finally is only 18 and there are other things to life than playing tennis and running from here to there to perform all these contracts."
Meanwhile the Nike contract has expired but is not yet renewed or replaced by Reebok, Adidas or Fila. "Until she would receive an interesting offer, Kim will play without a brand," concludes Lei.
12/10 - Thanks Ingrid
KIM WINS FLEMISH GIANT
De Standaard, December 8, 2001 -
Kim Clijsters is the winner of the Flemish Giant for the second time. It’s the 
trophy for the most successful sports man or
woman from Flanders. Clijsters almost obtained a triple amount of votes against the numbers two and three, Ceulemans
and Vandecaveye. “Until last year I was famous in Bree, but now clearly in all of Belgium”, said Kim laughing on the phone
from Australia. “Lately I have to collect more prizes for my daughter than I ever won myself”, joked her father Lei Clijsters. “Now, I love to
do it, no problem, although I am not the party guy.”
Kim, who started a bit her preparations for the new season with some jogging, could hardly call her election a real
surprise: "I won it already last year and my level has improved reasonably since then. But this does give me pleasure,
especially because the prize is a sculpture of Willem Vermandere. Contrary to my other trophies, is this the kind of trophy
that I do will take with me when I will get married.”
KIM GETS DOUBLE NOMINATION
De Standaard, December 6, 2001 -
BRUSSELS- This morning the list of nominees was announced by the Belgian Sports Journalists. 212 sports journalists and 20 former winners have entered their ballots.
Sports Woman of the Year:
1. Kim Clijsters
2. Justine Henin
3. Gella Vandecaveye (judo)
Sports Team of the Year:
1. Fed Cup tennis team
2. National Soccer team
3. National Junior Soccer Team
As of December 15 the public will get the opportunity to vote via Internet, phone or sms. Further details on this public vote will follow.
The final winners will be announced on December 20.
KIM AND JUSTINE TO SHARE AWARD
BRUSSELS- The jury of the National Sports Merit Trophy has given the award to tennis players Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin. The jury praised the exceptional achievements at world level of both players during the whole year 2001.
The jury has decided that both Clijsters and Henin deserved the trophy. Their Fed Cup win meant for both the crown on a splendid year.
Kim Clijsters won the tournaments of Stanford, Leipzig and Luxemburg. On top of that, she reached the finals in Indian Wells, Rosmalen and in one Grand Slam; Roland Garros. The Limburg girl is now ranked world number 5.
Justine Henin had a year high with a place in the finals at Wimbledon. Furthermore she won in Canberra, Gold Coast and Rosmalen. She also reached the finals on Hawai and Filderstadt. Her highest ranking in 2001 was the fifth place, currently she is number 7.
The National Sports Merit Trophy can only be won once in a sports career.
11/24 - Thanks Ingrid
WILL LLEYTON JOIN KIM AT ADIDAS?
SMH -- Organisers of the Adidas International at Homebush Bay in January 2002 remain hopeful of attracting world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt to the event after his girlfriend, Kim Clijsters, the world No. 5, indicated she would play in the warm-up tournament for the Australian Open. Hewitt, who won the Sydney tournament last year, has yet to indicate whether he will defend his title.
Besides Clijsters, last year's winner Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Amelie Mauresmo, Anna Kournikova and Justine Henin have announced that they will be in Sydney. For Hewitt, the presence of Clijsters may be all the incentive he needs to appear. Currently, there is a hole in Hewitt's calendar until the Australian Open in mid-January, as he has said he will not be doing the AAPT Championships in Adelaide in early January.
That means his options for a warm-up tournament for the Open are the adidas or the Colonial Classic at Kooyong. Confirmed in the men's draw for the Adidas are Andy Roddick, Sebastien Grosjean, Arnaud Clement, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roger Federer.
LLEYTON AND KIM CRUISE IN HIS VICTORY
Last Saturday, Lleyton Hewitt treated girlfriend Kim Clijsters to a cruise before having tea with his pen pal, and Aussie Prime Minister John Howard. The tennis duo went out on the harbour, catching a ferry to Taronga Zoo. Lleyton surprised the cruise staff by his humble non-antics in not needing the red carpet treatment.
11/23 - Thanks Ingrid
Kim needs your votes. No, she is not running for president of Belgium, if there is one?! LOL! Anyway, she is a nominee for Belgium's "People of the Year 2001" award in the sports category. The other nominees are:
2. Stefan Everts, a world champion motorcross
3. Mohammed Mourhit, a world champion field running
4. JM Saive, world champion table tennis
5. Gella Vandecaveye, world champion judo
The short list has been prepared by the editorial offices of Knack and VTM news, a Belgian magazine magazine and TV news channel respective. The list consists of people having played leading roles in their part of society in 2001, according to these editors' opinions. There are 4 categories: culture, sports, Belgium, world, and 5 nominees for each category. The awards will be decided by referendum. Everyone is invited to vote until December 2 via: Knack's website. Belgians can vote by phone or by document within this week's issue of Knack.
The award winners will be announced on December 18. The voters may win some nice prizes (car, tickets for the awards gala night, cinema tickets,…).
11/17
KIM IS HAPPY FOR LLEYTON
BRUSSELS - Kim Clijsters went yesterday noon to Australia to enjoy a long vacation. The trip went via Singapore to Sydney, where she will arrive just in time to see her boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt playing in the semifinals of the Masters. Before her take off she learned that Lleyton had captured the first spot on the World rankings for the first time.
"Kim was happy for her boyfriend. Lleyton is very ambitious, much more than Kim,” said father Lei Clijsters. “If she is 5 or 3, that doesn’t matter to her. She is not lying awake of a possible 1st place. As long as she enjoys what she does. That’s how she is. She doesn’t mind that others also have pleasure and success. For Lleyton the 1st place is a goal. He has made it and will do everything to keep it."
Furthermore, Kim Clijsters and sis Elke were thrilled with the Brilliant game in Antwerp. “It was a nice evening, by all means,” says Lei also. “Well organised, a lot of people and very spontaneous. Also the part with the pop group of Koen Wauters was really appreciated. Kim is a fan of him. Koen promised that he would come to sing when Kim gets married. I have pointed out to him “well that that might be in Australia!”
KIM CLIJSTERS ON TO SYDNEY
BREE- At the moment that Lleyton Hewitt crowned himself the youngest number 1 ever by his win over Patrick Rafter (7-5, 6-2), his girlfriend Kim Clijsters was on a plane… heading for Sydney. “Kim has sent me messages with the scores up to 3-0 in the second set, afterwards I haven’t heard anything anymore,” according to Lei Clijsters this Friday afternoon.
And so the flight of his daughter was on its way to Sydney, with a stop in Singapore (after more than 10 hours flying), and she had to wait for hours before she could congratulate her Lleyton. “Kim will stay in Australia for a period of 3 months, the first three weeks they will go on holidays together. The couple will stay somewhere privately, the Hopman Cup will follow in December,” according to Lei Clijsters, who reacts very calmly to the fact that his future son-in-law has become the new world number one. “Fantastic for Lleyton, and I think that also Kim thinks this to be fantastic. But it really didn’t bother us the past days. Even more, he can’t do any better than this. Everyone will be out there to overtake his position. But 1, 2, 3 or 4 in the world doesn’t mean any difference to us.”
The Aussie’s achievement might inspire Kim to also become the world number one. “Ach, Kim is not occupied with that. She even regularly doesn’t know that by winning a match she could climb up in the ranking. Lleyton would rather think about that. Nice for him that he already achieves that right now,” according to Lei.
11/16
On Wednesday, November 14, Kim defeated fellow Belgian Justine Henin 6-4 6-2 in a sold-out exhibition match. The Brillant Game, as it was called, took place in Antwerp, Belgium. Kim was so happy after the win, that she thanked everyone from the fans to Justine. Kim is now in Sydney, Australia, where she has watched Lleyton defeat Patrick Rafter to become the no. 1 ATP player in the world. She will of course stick around to see if he can win the whole thing, the Mastcers Cup that is. Lleyton plays Sebastien Grosjean of France in the semifinal on Saturday. Later this month, Kim will watch Lleyton try and win Davis Cup again. Can these two kids' year get any better?! To read more about Kim's past week, click here.
MAES STAYS ON AS COACH
GENK – Next season Carl Maes will continue to coach Kim Clijsters. The man who followed her since she was 10, signed on for another year. “Carl delivers good work,” says father Lei Clijsters who manages the business interests of his daughter. “There were other candidates as coach, but he got preference.”
NO MOVE TO MONACO
GENK - Kim Clijsters does not plan a move to Monaco, as quite a few Belgian top sportsmen do. “Bree is good enough for me,” she said. “I don’t need the glamour of Monaco." Father Lei Clijsters adds, “Monaco is only under discussion if you get a deal of 100 million (Belgian francs, is about 2.5 million $), and that is out of the question. The sportswear sponsors are seriously cutting down their budgets."
KIM LOSES ONE SPONSOR AND GAINS ANOTHER
After a 1-year deal with Nike, Kim Clijsters' sponsorship contract has terminated. Her father Lei has stated that he and Kim are currently shopping for other clothing sponsors. Meanwhile, Clijsters has struck-up a friendship with Mitsubishi, who are now sponsoring her for the next year. With this sponsorship comes a free, new Mitsubishi convertible for Kim. The Belgian has a temporary liscense, and she says it will be nice to have a car after spending so much time on the planes.
11/9
After Belgiums 3-0 defeat over Germany on Wednesday, they followed it up with a just-as-easy defeat over Australia today. Justine Henin, known for her admirable backhand, defeated Rachel McQuillan 7-5 6-0. Kim followed her win with a 6-3 6-3 win over Australian power-server Alicia Molik. Finally, Belgium secured their victory with a 6-4 6-2 win in doubles over Molik and McQuillan by Kim and Els Callens. Tomorrow, Belgium faces Spain with Henin playing Conchita Martinez and Kim playing Aranxta Sanchez Vicario who has never beaten Kim! Let's hope they can keep up their sweeps.
KIM GOES HOME WITH LLEYTON FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Kim's heading down under for the holiday seasons. In a recent Belgium newspaper interview, Kim talked about her holiday plans. Here's what she had to say. "After the brilliant game, (Antwerp tournament, Nov 14, gala exhibition match between Justine Henin and Kim) I will travel with Lleyton during 3 weeks to the north east [Australia] from Brisbane to the Barrier Reef with some stops in between, Eg in Noosa. Patrick Rafter has his ranch over there and we certainly will visit him there." To read all of the article, click here.
11/5
Kim unfortunately lost to Lindsay Davenport in the semis of the Sanex Championships. So what's new?! Hehe! The score was 6-1 3-6 6-7(3). Yes, Kim did win the first set, and it's sad that she couldn't repeat that score, however she wasn't easily beat. The next two sets weren't a jiff for Davenport, with the 3rd set ending in a tiebreak. Kim now ends the year as the 5th player in the world, and with a very crowded group at the top, it is very possible that Kim could get the no. 1 ranking next year! Now Kim, on to Fed Cup!
1 Lindsay Davenport 4902
2 Jennifer Capriati 4892
3 Venus Williams 4128
4 Martina Hingis 3944
5 Kim Clijsters 3265
6 Justine Henin 3004
7 Serena Williams 2989
8 Jelena Dokic 2780
9 Amelie Mauresmo 2765
10 Monica Seles 2306
11/1
Kim is now into the semifinals with a 7-5 6-1 defeat over Spanish veteran Aranxta-Sanchez Vicario. In her 2nd Sanex Championships, this is her best result, and her 4th defeat over Sanchez-Vicario. She will now play Lindsay Davenport on Saturday for a place in the final. "[Davenport's] serving so well. I just have to stay focused and take any chance I get," Clijsters said about the forthcoming match. Davenport has defeated Kim 4 out of 5 times, but the one match that Kim conquered over her was their last meeting, the final of the Bank of the West Tennis Classic. From that, Kim must be feeling confident and she has to be optimistic! Go Kim!
10/31
Kim increased her series lead over Elena Dementieva today. She has now defeated her 3 out of 4 times with a 6-3 7-64win. This is sweet revenge for Kim, who was defeated last year by the Russian in the quarterfinals. Kim will next play Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario of Spain, who she defeated last year. Her draw status is coincidentally a reversal of last year's where she played Sanchez-Vicario in the first round and Dementieva in the 2nd. QF:
USA Jennifer Capriati 1
FRA Sandrine Testud
-----------------------------------------------------------
BEL Justine Henin 4
USA Serena Williams 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESP Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario
BEL Kim Clijsters 3
-----------------------------------------------------------
YUG Jelena Dokic 6
USA Lindsay Davenport 2
10/29
It's now the time of year that every WTA player waits for. It's the week of the Sanex Championships which has emmigrated from New York, USA to Munich, Germany. 
This year has proved to be the incarnation of new stars against the usual suspects claiming all the tournaments. So who will win? Will it be the rookie Grand Slam winner Jennifer Capriati, the classy Belgian Justine Henin, the veteran rebounder Lindsay Davenport, or the ingenue reincarnated Jelena Dokic? With the way this year has gone, everything seems up in the air and a bit unpredicatble, but one thing is certain: Kim will be there to do some damage and hopefully win! Her first round opponent is Russian Elena Dementieva who defeated her in a tough 3-setter here last year, but it's payback time for Kim, who now leads their head to head series 2-1. That is definitely good to know, and let's not forget Kim is fresh off a title capture from the Seat Open, where she failed to lose a set. So put away those crossed fingers. Kim won't need such luck with her talent! Go Kim! DRAW:
USA Jennifer Capriati 1
BUL Magdalena Maleeva
-------------------------------------------
FRA Sandrine Testud
FRA Ameilie Mauresmo 5
-----------------------------------------------------------
BEL Justine Henin 4
GER Anke Huber
-------------------------------------------
ITA Silvia Farina Elia
USA Serena Williams 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRA Nathalie Tauziat 8
ESP Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario
-------------------------------------------
RUS Elena Dementieva
BEL Kim Clijsters 3
-----------------------------------------------------------
YUG Jelena Dokic 6
USA Meghann Shaughnessy
-------------------------------------------
RSA Amanda Coetzer
USA Lindsay Davenport 2
10/28
Kim is now a 2-time Seat Open winner. She won it in 1999, and now she has defeated Lisa Raymond of the USA 6-2 6-2 to win it again. Her boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt, who withdrew from Stockholm, was on hand to watch her victory. This is Kim's 6th final of the year and her 3rd win. She will remain the 5th ranked player in the country.
10/27
Kim is now into the the finals of Luxembourg. She had a simple straight sets victory over Amanda Coetzer of South Africa. The final score was 6-3 6-4 and the match was a little over an hour. Now, Kim will have much rest for her final tomorrow against either her good friend of Slovenia, Tina Pisnik, or the American, serve and volley veteran, Lisa Raymond. Either way, it appears to be that Kim is en route to recapturing the Seat Open Trophy which announced her as a great player when she won it in 1999 as her first tournament. Go Kim!
10/26
Kim defeated the Russian bombshell Anna Kournikova today. It wasn't easy though. The score was 7-5 7-62. Kim has now defeated Kournikova 4 out of 5 occasions. Kim next plays Amanda Coetzer. All big Kim fans know that Kim's breakthrough was when she defeated Coetzer in the 4th round of Wimbledon 1999. This is the first match they've played since then. Hopefully, Kim can remember what it takes to defeat the "Litttle Assasin!"
10/25
Today, Kim defeated Rita Grande at the Seat Open in Luxembourg. Kim will next play Anna Kournikova. This will be a very good match-up between the sexiest tennis player and the most popular tennis player on the WTA tour. Anna actually defeated Kim in the QF here last year! Let's see what Kim can do this time around.
10/21
Kim is now going to Luxembourg to play the Seat Open. There, she will be the first seed since Jennifer Capriati withdrawed. Kim has a bye in the first round. Amelie Mauresmo, who was the 2nd seed, also withdrew. So she has fewer obstacles. That doesn't matter however because this was the first tournament Kim ever won and she can win it again!
10/17
Even though Kim reached the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt, Germany last year, her shot at the title was cut short last week as she lost to Anke Huber. 
The 26th year old German, who is retiring this year, defeated Kim 6-3 4-6 6-4 in the 2nd. Kim did manage to get to the semis in doubles however with her partner Barbara Schett. Kim may have lost, but she stayed for the party, and she brought Lleyton with her. This week, Kim was supposed to compete for the Swisscom Challenge in Zurich, Switzerland, but she pulled out. There is some good news about Kim however. It is now known that she will play Hopman Cup this year with Xavier Malisse. It is possible that if Belgium plays Australia, Kim could play against Lleyton Hewitt!
10/9
Kim is playing the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix this week. Kim reached the final last year, and lost to Martina Hingis. This year, the competition is much more complicated with Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, and more. That is okay though because this past year, Kim had huge defeats over Davenport and Hingis, and she took Capriati to a marathon 3rd set in the final of the French Open. In brief, Clijsters can defeat anyone as long as she is optimistic. She is no. 5 in the world, so she shouldn't be doubted anymore. She is now on the offensive, not the defensive and you know you're among the world's elite when you're at that position. With Kim this week will be her Australian boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt. So she will have more than her fans to root for her, not to mention a good practice partner! Good luck Kim! Give us another final, and hopefully a win!
9/28/01
Leipzig, Sep 28 2001. After the "Anna-Mania" around Russian tennis-beauty Kournikova, Leipzig Savings Bank Cup now has the "Cult About Kim." During an autograph hour at the Sanex booth, 18-year-old Kim Clijsters was literally beleaguered by hundreds of fans.
Patiently, the smart Belgian was giving autographs on program books, balls and baseballcaps for 20 minutes. Afterwards, she shortly told in a tv interview how much she liked being in Leipzig and then appeared at a sponsor-talk in the VIP lounge together with representatives of the savings bank. Relaxed and easy-going as usual, the number 5 of the world chatted with Klaus Westphal, Bernd Michallik, Matthias Goldbeck, Paul Kockentiedt and Friedrich Scholl. "I've been travelling on the tour for 30 weeks now, on all continents in the world. I'm really happy to come home again, but only Sunday evening...," said sympathetic Clijsters, the daughter of the legendary belgian soccer player Leo Clijsters. Willingly she talked about her boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt. "When we are practicing together I sometimes win a tiebreak, but only sometimes. The boys play just damn good," says Clijsters who could also imagine to play a mixed together with her boyfriend. "If I have the time for it, sure. After all we're a good duo." She's looking forward to meeting the Australian tennis star again at her next performance in Filderstadt. "Lleyton will visit me there."
KIM FIGHTS TO DEFEAT ELIA
Kim won her match today against Silvia Farina Elia. It was difficult because she was having a mysterious nerve problem in her right arm. "I am glad I got through the match," Kim said. "I've never had such problems before but I want to defend my title." Kim defeated the Italian Farina Elia 6-1 2-6 6-4. She next faces Elena Dementieva of Russia. Their last meeting was the 4th round of the US Open in which Clijsters won in 3 sets.
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BRUSSELS - Kim Clijsters has been chosen by more than two hundred sports journalists and over twenty former winners as Sports Woman of the Year 2001. For Kim it is the third win of the title in a row. De Standaard - Number 2: Henin: "Unimportant." Justine Henin was disappointed. More than she herself would admit that. "I know what improvement I have made this year. That is far more important than such a prize." Quite bitter. She had obviously given herself a serious chance. "Based on the Grand Slams I had to be the Sports Woman of the Year, but it seems that the ranking has settled the matter… Je m'en fous (I don't give a damn)," sneered Henin and off she was. The Belgian tournament, set to start February 8th, is already pulling in the stars. Besides Kim, Jelena Dokic, Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo and Serena Williams have signed on to compete. Wildcards have been granted to 3 belgians so far: Els Callens, Laurence Courtois (should she be up to it), and Kim's little sister, Elke Clijsters. There is one more wildcard up for grabs. Het Belang van Limburg, December 15, 2001 - Kim Clijsters has been elected in the Flemish Parliament this Saturday as Flemish Tennis Player of the Year, for the 3rd time in a row. Clijsters won 1134 votes, Xavier Malisse 976 and Els Callens 911. This is her forth trophy this year, after the Trophy of Sports Merit, the Flemish Giant and the Flemish Sports Juwel. Clijsters ended the year as world number 5. Kirsten Flipkens received the title of Flemish Promising Youngster of the Year. She was followed in the referendum by Elke Clijsters and Niels Desein. Flemish national TV1 news, December 11, 2001 - Lei Clijsters has not much free time these days as he has to pick up all of Kim's recent trophies since Kim is presently in Australia. Clijsters' quotes, "Nevertheless it is becoming a lot, although it is each time again a crowning of a splendid year. As such you don't get tired of it. Although I am getting a bit tired of picking up the trophies as I don't really enjoy talking to the cameras and don't really like standing on a platform, those days are gone for me. I hope that Kim and Lleyton Hewitt come together as fast as possible and if she then wins something later on, then they may do the honors." Sports24, December 11, 2001 - Kim Clijsters is the winner of the Flemish Sports Juwel 2001. That is obviously no surprise at all. The Flemish Minister of Sports Bert Anciaux has presented the Flemish Sports Awards 2001 Tuesday night at an encounter with the Flemish sports world at the Brussels Residence Palace. The Flemish Sports Juwel, that honours a Flemish sports(wo)man who has delivered a remarkable result during the year or who has ended an exceptional sports career, went to tennis star Kim Clijsters. Belgian Tennis Magazine (November) - A car constructor, Mitsubishi, has joined the list of Kim's sponsors. They have signed a contract for two years, immediately including a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero at Kim's disposal. De Standaard, December 8, 2001 - Kim Clijsters is the winner of the Flemish Giant for the second time. It’s the  trophy for the most successful sports man or
woman from Flanders. Clijsters almost obtained a triple amount of votes against the numbers two and three, Ceulemans
and Vandecaveye. “Until last year I was famous in Bree, but now clearly in all of Belgium”, said Kim laughing on the phone
from Australia. “Lately I have to collect more prizes for my daughter than I ever won myself”, joked her father Lei Clijsters. “Now, I love to
do it, no problem, although I am not the party guy.”
De Standaard, December 6, 2001 - BRUSSELS- This morning the list of nominees was announced by the Belgian Sports Journalists. 212 sports journalists and 20 former winners have entered their ballots. 1. Kim Clijsters 2. Justine Henin 3. Gella Vandecaveye (judo) 1. Fed Cup tennis team 2. National Soccer team 3. National Junior Soccer Team BRUSSELS- The jury of the National Sports Merit Trophy has given the award to tennis players Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin. The jury praised the exceptional achievements at world level of both players during the whole year 2001. The jury has decided that both Clijsters and Henin deserved the trophy. Their Fed Cup win meant for both the crown on a splendid year. Kim Clijsters won the tournaments of Stanford, Leipzig and Luxemburg. On top of that, she reached the finals in Indian Wells, Rosmalen and in one Grand Slam; Roland Garros. The Limburg girl is now ranked world number 5. Justine Henin had a year high with a place in the finals at Wimbledon. Furthermore she won in Canberra, Gold Coast and Rosmalen. She also reached the finals on Hawai and Filderstadt. Her highest ranking in 2001 was the fifth place, currently she is number 7. The National Sports Merit Trophy can only be won once in a sports career. SMH -- Organisers of the Adidas International at Homebush Bay in January 2002 remain hopeful of attracting world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt to the event after his girlfriend, Kim Clijsters, the world No. 5, indicated she would play in the warm-up tournament for the Australian Open. Hewitt, who won the Sydney tournament last year, has yet to indicate whether he will defend his title. Besides Clijsters, last year's winner Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Amelie Mauresmo, Anna Kournikova and Justine Henin have announced that they will be in Sydney. For Hewitt, the presence of Clijsters may be all the incentive he needs to appear. Currently, there is a hole in Hewitt's calendar until the Australian Open in mid-January, as he has said he will not be doing the AAPT Championships in Adelaide in early January. That means his options for a warm-up tournament for the Open are the adidas or the Colonial Classic at Kooyong. Confirmed in the men's draw for the Adidas are Andy Roddick, Sebastien Grosjean, Arnaud Clement, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roger Federer. Last Saturday, Lleyton Hewitt treated girlfriend Kim Clijsters to a cruise before having tea with his pen pal, and Aussie Prime Minister John Howard. The tennis duo went out on the harbour, catching a ferry to Taronga Zoo. Lleyton surprised the cruise staff by his humble non-antics in not needing the red carpet treatment. 3. Mohammed Mourhit, a world champion field running 4. JM Saive, world champion table tennis 5. Gella Vandecaveye, world champion judo BRUSSELS - Kim Clijsters went yesterday noon to Australia to enjoy a long vacation. The trip went via Singapore to Sydney, where she will arrive just in time to see her boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt playing in the semifinals of the Masters. Before her take off she learned that Lleyton had captured the first spot on the World rankings for the first time. BREE- At the moment that Lleyton Hewitt crowned himself the youngest number 1 ever by his win over Patrick Rafter (7-5, 6-2), his girlfriend Kim Clijsters was on a plane… heading for Sydney. “Kim has sent me messages with the scores up to 3-0 in the second set, afterwards I haven’t heard anything anymore,” according to Lei Clijsters this Friday afternoon. GENK – Next season Carl Maes will continue to coach Kim Clijsters. The man who followed her since she was 10, signed on for another year. “Carl delivers good work,” says father Lei Clijsters who manages the business interests of his daughter. “There were other candidates as coach, but he got preference.” GENK - Kim Clijsters does not plan a move to Monaco, as quite a few Belgian top sportsmen do. “Bree is good enough for me,” she said. “I don’t need the glamour of Monaco." Father Lei Clijsters adds, “Monaco is only under discussion if you get a deal of 100 million (Belgian francs, is about 2.5 million $), and that is out of the question. The sportswear sponsors are seriously cutting down their budgets." After a 1-year deal with Nike, Kim Clijsters' sponsorship contract has terminated. Her father Lei has stated that he and Kim are currently shopping for other clothing sponsors. Meanwhile, Clijsters has struck-up a friendship with Mitsubishi, who are now sponsoring her for the next year. With this sponsorship comes a free, new Mitsubishi convertible for Kim. The Belgian has a temporary liscense, and she says it will be nice to have a car after spending so much time on the planes. Kim's heading down under for the holiday seasons. In a recent Belgium newspaper interview, Kim talked about her holiday plans. Here's what she had to say. "After the brilliant game, (Antwerp tournament, Nov 14, gala exhibition match between Justine Henin and Kim) I will travel with Lleyton during 3 weeks to the north east [Australia] from Brisbane to the Barrier Reef with some stops in between, Eg in Noosa. Patrick Rafter has his ranch over there and we certainly will visit him there." To read all of the article, click here. FRA Sandrine Testud ----------------------------------------------------------- BEL Justine Henin 4 USA Serena Williams 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESP Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario BEL Kim Clijsters 3 ----------------------------------------------------------- YUG Jelena Dokic 6 USA Lindsay Davenport 2  This year has proved to be the incarnation of new stars against the usual suspects claiming all the tournaments. So who will win? Will it be the rookie Grand Slam winner Jennifer Capriati, the classy Belgian Justine Henin, the veteran rebounder Lindsay Davenport, or the ingenue reincarnated Jelena Dokic? With the way this year has gone, everything seems up in the air and a bit unpredicatble, but one thing is certain: Kim will be there to do some damage and hopefully win! Her first round opponent is Russian Elena Dementieva who defeated her in a tough 3-setter here last year, but it's payback time for Kim, who now leads their head to head series 2-1. That is definitely good to know, and let's not forget Kim is fresh off a title capture from the Seat Open, where she failed to lose a set. So put away those crossed fingers. Kim won't need such luck with her talent! Go Kim! DRAW:
USA Jennifer Capriati 1 10/28 Kim is now a 2-time Seat Open winner. She won it in 1999, and now she has defeated Lisa Raymond of the USA 6-2 6-2 to win it again. Her boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt, who withdrew from Stockholm, was on hand to watch her victory. This is Kim's 6th final of the year and her 3rd win. She will remain the 5th ranked player in the country. 10/27 Kim is now into the the finals of Luxembourg. She had a simple straight sets victory over Amanda Coetzer of South Africa. The final score was 6-3 6-4 and the match was a little over an hour. Now, Kim will have much rest for her final tomorrow against either her good friend of Slovenia, Tina Pisnik, or the American, serve and volley veteran, Lisa Raymond. Either way, it appears to be that Kim is en route to recapturing the Seat Open Trophy which announced her as a great player when she won it in 1999 as her first tournament. Go Kim! 10/26 Kim defeated the Russian bombshell Anna Kournikova today. It wasn't easy though. The score was 7-5 7-62. Kim has now defeated Kournikova 4 out of 5 occasions. Kim next plays Amanda Coetzer. All big Kim fans know that Kim's breakthrough was when she defeated Coetzer in the 4th round of Wimbledon 1999. This is the first match they've played since then. Hopefully, Kim can remember what it takes to defeat the "Litttle Assasin!" 10/25 Today, Kim defeated Rita Grande at the Seat Open in Luxembourg. Kim will next play Anna Kournikova. This will be a very good match-up between the sexiest tennis player and the most popular tennis player on the WTA tour. Anna actually defeated Kim in the QF here last year! Let's see what Kim can do this time around. 10/21 Kim is now going to Luxembourg to play the Seat Open. There, she will be the first seed since Jennifer Capriati withdrawed. Kim has a bye in the first round. Amelie Mauresmo, who was the 2nd seed, also withdrew. So she has fewer obstacles. That doesn't matter however because this was the first tournament Kim ever won and she can win it again! 10/17 Even though Kim reached the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt, Germany last year, her shot at the title was cut short last week as she lost to Anke Huber.
10/9
Kim is playing the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix this week. Kim reached the final last year, and lost to Martina Hingis. This year, the competition is much more complicated with Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Lindsay Davenport, and more. That is okay though because this past year, Kim had huge defeats over Davenport and Hingis, and she took Capriati to a marathon 3rd set in the final of the French Open. In brief, Clijsters can defeat anyone as long as she is optimistic. She is no. 5 in the world, so she shouldn't be doubted anymore. She is now on the offensive, not the defensive and you know you're among the world's elite when you're at that position. With Kim this week will be her Australian boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt. So she will have more than her fans to root for her, not to mention a good practice partner! Good luck Kim! Give us another final, and hopefully a win!
Leipzig, Sep 28 2001. After the "Anna-Mania" around Russian tennis-beauty Kournikova, Leipzig Savings Bank Cup now has the "Cult About Kim." During an autograph hour at the Sanex booth, 18-year-old Kim Clijsters was literally beleaguered by hundreds of fans.
KIM FIGHTS TO DEFEAT ELIA
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