Update: Kim Clijsters won the U.S. Open, beating Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 to become the second mother to win a major since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 at Wimbledon.
Last night's U.S. Open Semi Final match between Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams may have ended on a controversial note, but there was no mistaking Clijsters' strong and stunning performance following a two-year break from the pro circuit after the birth of her daughter. We've been tracking her progress closely as she's been winning her way through the U.S. Open's earlier rounds, including her victory over tennis great Venus Williams.
After attaining the #1 ranking in 2005, the right-handed Belgian, citing injuries and lack of motivation, left professional tennis in 2007 at age 23. She announced she was looking forward to life with soon-to-be-husband Brian Lynch, an American basketball player who plays for the Belgian Antwerp Giants, and starting a family.
After her daughter Jada was born in February 2008, Clijsters was home full time with her, and also with her father, who was terminally ill with lung cancer, and who died at age 52 in January 2009. Tennis was definitely on the back burner.
It wasn't until Clijsters was asked in February 2009 to participate in an exhibition doubles match in May against Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi to celebrate the new Wimbledon retractable roof completion that she began practicing and thinking seriously about returning. Not sure where it would lead, she followed her instinct and found a refreshing, new-found love for the game, but with a new and different twist -- she would make the game a part of her life that she controlled, and not let the rigors of elite level tennis control her as in the past.
It paid off. A mature perspective gained from her time away from the sport, mental resilience, thoughtful consideration of her work-life "fit" (read more about "work-life fit" from Cali Yost here), and using her time at work with a focused intensity and efficiency, Clijsters demonstrates the traits that make "relaunchers" (those returning to work after a career break) such excellent employees, entrepreneurs, and sports stars.
A big congratulations to Kim Clijsters, mom, wife, tennis
pro, "relauncher" and U.S. Open SEMI
FINALIST! Best of luck in the Finals!! We are
rooting for you.
Photo Credit:
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-09/13/xin_332090613153173424351.jpg
Vivian Steir
Rabin
Carol Fishman Cohen
Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin are the co-authors of
the acclaimed career reentry book Back on the Career
Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work
, and the co-founders of iRelaunch , a company producing
career reentry programs, events, and content for employers,
universities, organizations and
individuals. If you’re on career break in
the Tri-State area, register for our Career Relaunch
Forum October 29, 2009 at
Seton Hall
University in South
Orange,
NJ.!
Also, check out our Relaunch
Circles 4 session coaching workshops now in 6
cities! Carol and Vivian can
be reached at info@iRelaunch.com or follow us on
twitter www.twitter.com/iRelaunch
.
