Judy Murray believes Roger Federer and Serena Williams’ incredible careers can be used as inspiration for Kim Clijsters who is set to make her comeback to the sport at 36 years old.
Clijsters announced in September that she would be coming out of retirement and returning to the WTA Tour in 2020.
It’s not the first time the four-time Grand Slam champion is making a return to the tour having previously surprising everyone by retiring at the age of 23 to start a family.
She would make her comeback just two years later where she went on to win back-to-back US Open titles.
But at the age of 36, Clijsters will be returning to the sport under very different circumstances.
The Belgium tennis star has already admitted that she doesn’t feel like she has anything to prove, stating her reason for returning is simply because she loves to play the sport competitively.
She is still two years younger than Federer and Williams, both of whom are still playing at the top of their game.
And Murray wouldn’t be surprised to see Clijsters make a winning comeback out of retirement.
“When you look at what Serena and Venus have done and the level that they are both still playing at and still loving what they are doing I think anything is possible,” Murray told Tennishead.
“If you are healthy, fit and passionate about doing it then there is no reason why not.
“I read that at the opening of the new Court 1 at Wimbledon that Kim (Clijsters), Venus (Williams), Jamie (Murray) and Martina (Hingis) played in, Venus had said to Kim that she was playing so well she should come back on tour and now she’s decided to do just that.
“It’s a big commitment with 3 kids and her own academy.
“She’s always been involved with tennis through her retirement and will be a popular addition to the tour and all eyes will be on her to see how she does she’ll be coming into it with different eyes.
“She’s got all the experience of winning Grand Slams, she knows what it takes and I imagine in lots of ways she’ll be more relaxed because she knows what’s ahead of her.
“Her passion for the game is I’m sure what’s driving her to comeback.
“I read that she had missed competing and you look at what Roger Federer is doing at 38 years old to me its incredible.
“With all the advances in sports science and medicine people are able to stay in great athletic shape for much longer than they maybe were 15 to 20 years ago.
“I will be very pleased to see her back because she was one of my favourite players to watch.”
