Kim Clijsters has been given a wild card into next month’s BNP Paribas Open, another step in her tennis comeback at age 36.
The four-time major winner won in 2003 and 2005 at Indian Wells before retiring nearly eight years ago. Clijsters hasn’t competed at the tournament in the Southern California desert since 2011.
A member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Clijsters spent 19 weeks as the No. 1 player in the world before retiring for the first time in 2007 to start a family. Clijsters returned to the Tour in 2009 following the birth of her first child, Jada, and won the US Open that August in just her third tournament back.
She went on to win two more Grand Slam titles (2010 US Open, 2011 Australian Open) and reclaim the No.1 ranking before retiring for a second time in 2012.
The mother of three lost to Garbine Muguruza in consecutive sets this month in Dubai in her comeback match.
Also Thursday, tournament officials said Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal received wild cards into the men’s doubles draw for the two-week event that starts March 9.
Djokovic will play with Viktor Troicki, whom he teamed with this year to help Serbia win the ATP Cup.
Djokovic reached the doubles semifinals at Indian Wells last year. Nadal will play with fellow Spaniard Marc Lopez. They won at Indian Wells in 2010 and 2012.
Also Thursday, tournament officials said Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal received wild cards into the men’s doubles draw for the two-week event that starts March 9. Djokovic will play with Viktor Troicki, whom he teamed with this year to help Serbia win the ATP Cup.
Djokovic reached the doubles semifinals at Indian Wells last year. Nadal will play with fellow Spaniard Marc Lopez. They won at Indian Wells in 2010 and 2012.
The 2020 BNP Paribas Open will welcome players and fans from around the world to Tennis Paradise, highlighting the idyllic and majestic beauty of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, as well as the incredible offerings that make the tournament one of the world’s most alluring and enjoyable sporting events.
