Clijsters game for summer series

As far as summer affairs go, Kim Clijsters and the USA have a good thing going.

The prevailing medium-paced hardcourts suit her athletic baseline style better than any other surface. She adores the hot summertime climate. She can travel to tournaments with members of her family because activity in her native Belgium and the rest of Europe shuts down in August.

Heck, she's even engaged to an American, Brian Lynch, who plays professional basketball in Belgium.

"I've always enjoyed playing those tournaments," Clijsters says of the North American hardcourt swing, now bundled together as the US Open Series. "Besides the Antwerp tournament, they're my favorite tournaments of the year."

For good reason. By excelling on American soil, the 23-year-old native of Bilzen has burnished her stellar career.

In 2003 Clijsters ascended to No.1 for the first time by winning the title at Los Angeles in August and then romped into New York with a tour-best 67-9 record, nearly half of her wins coming in the USA.

After missing most of 2004 with a wrist injury, Clijsters feasted in 2005, winning six titles, including her first major in the U.S. Open, while going a sparkling 32-1 in America.

By virtue of finishing atop the points race in the US Open Series, Clijsters padded her already bulging checkbook with the $1 million Series bonus when she beat France's Mary Pierce. Her payday: $2.2million, the richest single payday in women's sports.

Clijsters hasn't strayed far from the top ranking since. She spent another stint at No.1 earlier this year and has maintained her consistent play throughout 2006, reaching the semifinals of all three majors.

However, second-ranked Clijsters has failed to advance to another Grand Slam final, falling to another Belgian, Justine Henin-Hardenne, in Paris and London and to No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo of France in Melbourne.

"It's hard when you think of the No.2 player in the world having a mediocre year," TV commentator Pam Shriver says. "She set such a high standard last year for what she can do. She proved she can win a major, but since then it seems she's been coasting a bit."

With so many points to defend this summer, Clijsters can't afford to coast. But American events usually bring out the best in her game.

Though proficient on all surfaces, she thrives on cement, where true bounces play into her strengths. Sturdy and strong, the 5-81/2 Clijsters -- whose father is a former pro soccer star -- can bludgeon opponents from the baseline with powerful groundstrokes and fend off would-be attackers with superior court-coverage.

"She's tough on any surface," No.3 Henin-Hardenne says.

Clijsters is such a skilled athlete that winning almost comes too easily at times. It's her mind, and motivation, that some observers believe are holding the cheery Clijsters from tapping into a killer instinct and reaping more big titles.

"To me, results don't matter at all," she said. "I like to make friends on the tour (and know that) if I stop ... I can still call girls and still hang out with girls and meet up and catch up. That to me is more important, and that's something that I prefer to take away. Like I said before, trophies, they don't talk to you when you retire."

Likewise, Clijsters has not backed off her public pronouncements that she intends to retire at the end of 2007 to preserve her body, start a family and lead a more normal life.

She says every time she's able to compete is a bonus after thinking her career nearly ended following double wrist surgery in 2004.

That perspective has helped boost the enjoyment factor, as well as help her get through losses.

"I do enjoy playing tennis, and especially because this is like maybe the last year and a half I have to play and that I can play," Clijsters says.

But is it holding her back?

Two-time U.S. Open champ Tracy Austin questions whether she has the hunker-down mentality she needs to exploit her full potential.

"I'm not sure how extremely hungry she is," says Austin, who remains a fan of Clijsters. "She seems so satisfied with her life -- planning her wedding, talking about having kids, already planning the end of her career, talking about the battle with the body. If you're talking about retirement, then you already kind of have one foot out the door."

Another major obstacle is Henin-Hardenne.

The pint-sized, all-court player has owned Clijsters on the game's biggest stages, going 3-0 against Clijsters in Grand Slam finals and 5-2 in majors overall. When Clijsters won her only major in New York last year, she did not face Henin-Hardenne.

Whether Clijsters can shake her nemesis in crucial matches and dominate this summer is a big question mark. Her best shot will be on her favored cement. Though she trails Henin-Hardenne 12-10 in head-to-head matches, Clijsters leads on hardcourts 6-4.

Shriver says Clijsters is among a small group of top favorites, including Henin-Hardenne and Mauresmo, with a legitimate chance to win the U.S. Open. Because the field is so wide open, and because players such as former No.1s Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams are coming back from injuries, health will play a big role.

"The U.S. Open champ will be fittest player of the year," Shriver says. "Kim was that last summer."

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