Kim Clijsters

Kim Clijsters

Kim Clijsters lost her first four major finals: 12-10 in the third against Jennifer Capriati at Roland Garros in 2001, the day after her 18th birthday, then three straight to Justine Henin. By August 2003 she was world No. 1 in both singles and doubles, the first player to top the singles list without a major, and the wait ended at the 2005 US Open. The game was unmistakable: heavy baseline power on elite defence, the full splits mid-rally her signature.

She walked away at 23, became a mother, and came back better. Unranked and on a wildcard, she won the 2009 US Open, beating Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 with 18-month-old daughter Jada on court at the ceremony, the first mother to take a major since 1980. She defended it in 2010 and added the 2011 Australian Open, finishing with 4 majors, three of them US Opens, and 41 career titles. A second comeback ended in 2022; the Hall of Fame had already called in 2017.