Kim Clijsters retains verve that made her four-time major champ

Former world No 1 Kim Clijsters is on the comeback in trail ahead of the US Open, which is looking increasingly likely to proceed amid COVID-19 precautions

Kim Clijsters playing in Key Biscayne in 2012, the year she retired for a second time.

Comeback legend Kim Clijsters is shaping nicely for a US Open assault should the grand slam tournament proceed in New York next month.

The twice-retired mother of three, who has won four grand slam titles and once topped the world rankings, is a fan favourite in Australia.

A comeback initially set to start in Melbourne in January was postponed by injury and then interrupted by the COVID-19 shutdown just as it was beginning.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding global tennis, the 2011 Australian Open champion is flourishing in a popular teams event underway in America.

World Team Tennis has been around for decades but the current season has drawn several prominent names given the regular tour is yet to resume and players are keen for practice.

Clijsters has the rare distinction of being a playing legend after being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2017.

She also has the best pedigree in singles in the teams event at The Greenbrier but given her last major appearance came at the US Open in 2012, there is fascination as to whether she can reproduce her best form.

So far, so good — some aches and pains aside.

After practising in New Jersey, the three-time US Open champion is unbeaten in West Virginia, where the calibre of her rivals so far has been of the highest quality.

Sofia Kenin is the reigning Australian Open champion. Sloane Stephens won the US Open in 2017.

And Danielle Collins, who was sent packing from the competition for breaching COVID-19 restrictions, reached a semi-final in Melbourne in 2019.

Clijsters-Kenin today!!!! https://t.co/3lJXkkCyso pic.twitter.com/8DEg6TIVLj

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 15, 2020

The caveat is, of course, that an exhibition event played over a shortened set is far from the test the 37-year-old would receive in a regular WTA Tour event, let alone a grand slam.

That includes one that may well have an asterisk next to it depending on the quality of field next month in New York, though Serena Williams has committed as she seeks a 24th major title that would equal Margaret Court.

Clijsters, who was competitive against former world No 1 Garbine Muguruza and Johanna Konta in WTA Tour matches before the tour was suspended in March, is content in her comeback despite the disruptions.

The Belgian was successful at major level three times in her first comeback after giving birth to her daughter Jada in 2008. She and husband Brian Lynch have since become parents to Jack in 2013 and Blake in 2016.

“The question I’ve gotten a lot in Belgium from media is, ‘Do you still want to go through with it and do you still want to keep playing now, with everything that’s going on?’”, Clijsters told the WTT website.

“It doesn’t mean because COVID happened that I’m not interested in playing more tennis. There are some challenges and combining parenting at home and still going to practice and things like that … you just try to see the positive things out of moments that you’re in and that’s another big lesson that you learn.”

In a troubled season, coronavirus has killed off the lucrative circuit swing through China later this year after the nation confirmed on Friday it had banned global sports for the rest of 2020.

Among the 11 top tier events cancelled are the WTA Finals in Shenzhen claimed with flair by world No 1 Ash Barty last November.

As a result of the decision in China, a further remodelling of the tennis calendar is expected in order to enable players opportunities to compete later in the year.

It follows a decision to cancel an ATP Tour event in Washington DC early next month.

But the WTT event featuring Clijsters has boosted the confidence of officials that both the Cincinnati Masters, which has been relocated to Flushing Meadows, and the US Open can progress safely, despite the issue with Collins.

The Weekend Australian understands that under a traffic light system, US officials raised the alert level to amber earlier this month but have since eased it to green as the COVID-19 outlook has improved in the nation’s northeast.

It is uncertain which Australians will travel to New York. They will be required to fly to a European destination, most probably London, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Players will be based at hotels on Long Island in Nassau County and required to follow strict guidelines to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection.

US administrators are also in negotiations with European officials as they seek exemptions in order to enable players to cross continents for the rescheduled clay circuit culminating in the French Open in late September.

Enjoying my time at @WorldTeamTennis. Finding my rhythm with each ball 🎾... lots of exciting matches and a great team! #letsgo @nyempiretennis🗽💪 #nealskupski #sabinelisicki #jacksock #kvetapeschke #lukehenson🐔🐓 pic.twitter.com/q271OYLSvI

— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) July 17, 2020