When you have Kim Clijsters on your side of the net, the net gains are bound to be pretty high. Such is the story of Kirsten Flipkens, who, under the guidance of her fellow Belgian, enjoyed her first Top 20 finish in 2013 in a season highlighted by her semi-final run at Wimbledon. Her next stop on the WTA’s Road to Singapore will be the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships from February 17 and in an interview to XPRESS, the 28-year-old speaks about Clijsters’ influence on her game and her exploits on grass. Excerpts…
Q. You started off really well at the Australian Open against Robson. How disappointed were you with the way you played in the second round?
A. To be honest, I was not all that disappointed. The second round was more about Casey Dellacqua playing really well. It was not my day, and it was so hot. She played really well.
Q. Your breakthrough was at Wimbledon last year when you reached the semis. How much confidence did a run like that give you?
A. It gave me a lot of confidence. I knew before that I was a good player on grass. I won Wimbledon juniors in 2003. The week before Wimbledon last year, I played in the finals at 's-Hertgenbosch. It was a really nice experience for me.
Q. It has been reported that you are good friends with Kim Clijsters. How much would you credit her for improvements over the years?
A. Kim has always been a great friend. I know I can always call her whenever I need something. She did a lot for Belgian tennis and has inspired me a lot.
Q. You have been a regular to Dubai. What do you think of this event and the city?
A. I really love Dubai. I have even been there on holidays. It's been a few years since I have been there and I am really looking forward to going back.
Q. Do you believe you can break into the top-10 this year?
A. It's difficult to say. I know I have a lot of points to defend in the first half. For me it's most important to play my best every time I take the court.
Q. I know you’ve struggled with injury throughout your career, but now you are enjoying some of your best tennis. What affect do you think that adversity has had on your game and desire to work hard and fight in matches?
A. I have been able to enjoy tennis more than before. With the injuries, I had a blood clot, so I started to realize what is important in life. Losing a tennis match is not such drama as having injuries compared to all the other things in life.
