Kim together with Citizen-president Lauren R. Grunstein

Kim, who had won the US Open Championship in 2005, returned as an unranked wildcard in 2009 following a 27-month absence after the birth of her daughter. She promptly won the 2009 US Open Championship, and in the process became the first unranked wildcard to win a Grand Slam event in over 30 years. She has also won the WTA World Championship, twice; has been Doubles champion both at Wimbledon and the French Open (2003); and is one of only five players to have held the #1 world ranking in Singles and Doubles, simultaneously.

"Kim exists at the intersection of the Citizen Signature Collection timepieces and its advertising campaign. She possesses the unstoppable passion, precision and artistry associated with the Citizen Eco-Drive brand, and the credentials inherent in the concept "The Making of a Legend", states Laurence R. Grunstein, president of Citizen Watch Company of America, Inc. 

Kim is equally pleased with the partnership. She adds, "I am very proud to be an Ambassador for the Citizen Watch Company. Citizen has had a long affiliation with tennis as the Official Timekeeper of the US Open, so a partnership with Citizen is a natural choice for me. Passion has always been a critical part of my tennis game, just like the passion that Citizen has put into The Signature Collection."

The Signature Collection was introduced by Citizen Eco-Drive in Basel, Switzerland in 2009, and has successfully continued to expand into leading independent, regional and national jewelry stores. This week at Baselworld, Citizen Signature will be unveiling a men's series with an exclusive new hand-assembled movement, as well as a new ladies' series featuring 65 hand-set diamonds. All Citizen Signature timepieces are designed with the environmentallyfriendly Citizen Eco-Drive light-powered technology.

The Citizen Signature media campaign, "The Making of a Legend", will run throughout the United States, Canada, Caribbean, United Kingdom and Ireland. New creative breaks in the U.S. in July with print, in-store POP and outdoor advertising.

Kim Clijsters. (picture belga) Take a look at the pictures

Kim (WTA 17) lost the first set to Alisa Kleybanova (WTA 27) with 6-4, but then restored the hierarchy and seemed heading for match victory. After losing out on the first set, the Belgian won 9 of the subsequent 10 games. Kim took the second set at 6-1 and was leading 3-0. Still, the 20-year-old Russian managed to reel in a tiebreak.

There Kim advanced to 4-0 and still it went wrong. Kleybanova managed seven points in a row and after 2 hours and 36 minutes ended the match, and the series of 15 consecutive victories in Indian Wells as well. Kim's last defeat in the desert city dated from 2002. In 2003 and 2005 Kim won the Indian Wells tournament.

"I definitely think I let it slip away a little bit", Kim said afterwards. "But Alisa played well and fought her way back into the third set."
 
"I'd rather be able to move into the quarter finals or even beyond. Many people expect top players to well all the time. But more and more you see that it can become really difficult already early on in a tournament. There is a lot of talent making things difficult for us. If you  do not bring your best game, anybody can be ready, out there to defeat you", Kim conluded.

Kim's next tournament will be in Miami, which starts on 26 March.

WTA Indian Wells - 3rd round

Alisa Kleybanova (Rus/23) - Kim Clijsters (Bel/14) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/4)

Kim reached the third round in less than an hour  (picture belga) Take a look at the pictures

The Belgian, who had received a bye for the first round, beat the Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (WTA 72) in two sets, 6-2 and 6-1. Kim needed less than an hour to secure her third round ticket. It was the first time she played Strycova.

A RUSSIAN NEXT
In the next round the Russian Alisa Klejbanova (WTA 27/N.23),  awaits. She beat the Bulgarian Tsvetlana Pironkova (WTA 127) in three sets: 6-7, 6-3, 6-1.

WTA Indian Wells - 2nd round

Kim Clijsters (Bel) - Barbora Zahlavova (Cze) 6-2 and 6-1

Kim Clijsters shows the Laureus Award. (picture laureus.com)

After receiving the Award, Kim said: "2009 was a very emotional year for me. At the start I lost my father, and then winning the US Open was an unbelievable emotion. It was an experience I never thought would happen so quickly and so soon."

"It was an amazing two weeks. I'm really happy that I decided to come back to tennis, and that I have my family who like to travel and live this adventure with me. Now that Justine Henin and myself are back, I think I've started a trend with ex-tennis players making a return. I think it is only good for the sport."

Laureus World Sports Academy Member and tennis legend Martina Navratilova, the winner of 59 Grand Slam titles, said: "Tennis has suffered over the last few years with top class players retiring before their time was up because of injuries and stress. Kim Clijsters threw all that into reverse and staged a truly phenomenal comeback. It takes a really strong turn of mind to be able to return to the hard work and pressure of the tennis circuit, but for Kim to be able to do that and win a Grand Slam tournament within a few weeks is a heroic performance. She fully deserves to win this Award."

Several of sport's great legends were also nominated for the Laureus Comeback Award - Tour de France cyclist and two-time Laureus winner Lance Armstrong, American Football quarter-back Brett Favre and golfing legend Tom Watson. Plus young athletes Jessica Ennis from Britain and Blanka Vlasic from Croatia.

The 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognise sporting achievement during the period January 1 - December 31, 2009, are the premier honours on the international sporting calendar. The winners are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, the ultimate sports jury, made up of 46 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time. The living legends of sport honouring the great athletes of today.

The names of the winners were announced at a televised Awards Ceremony staged at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi which also celebrated the first ten years in the life of Laureus and was attended by global figures from the world of sport and entertainment.

The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy present were: Giacomo Agostini, Marcus Allen, Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Sergey Bubka, Nadia Comaneci, Kapil Dev, Emerson Fittipaldi, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dawn Fraser, Cathy Freeman, Mika Hakkinen, Tony Hawk, Mike Horn, Kip Keino, Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel, Alexey Nemov, Morné du Plessis, Hugo Porta, Monica Seles, Daley Thompson, Alberto Tomba and Steve Waugh.

Aim is to reduce the digital gap for underprivileged kids in Belgium with their social project, so send in your proposal for funding!

Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams. (picture belga) Pictures of the Billie Jean King Cup Pictures Fila-Wii Tennis Game Watch Kim's speech after the match against Venus on Kim Clijsters Tube! Take a look at the Fila-Wii-filmpje on Kim Clijsters Tube!

The Billie Jean King Cup is an exhibition tournament in which all winners of a Grand Slam take part. This year Kim, Venus Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Ana Ivanovic signed up for the event at Madison Square Garden. The Serbian replaced the injured title defender Serena Williams and faced Kim in the first semi final.

The match was played for one set and at a possible deuce no-ad scoring was used (whomever wins the first point after deuce, takes the point). At Madison Square Garden 11.700 spectators saw Ivanovic start best, but Kim levelled, then got away with a match point and forced Ivanovic into a tiebreak. Kim won the tiebreak at 7-2. In the other second final Williams beat Kuznetsova 6-4.

The final on the other hand was a 'best of three'. Venus, who in the past few weeks had won the tournaments of Dubai and Acapulco, started best and won the first set 6-4. When in the second set Kim trailed a break, things were not looking well. The Belgian fought back and won five games in a row. Kim took the second set at 6-3.

BILLIE JEAN KING CUP WITHOUT BILLIE JEAN KING

Venus Williams: 'I have played a truly great opponent.'

Kim powered on and in the decisive set she immediately took a break. When she trailed 4-3 Venus broke back. The 12th game proved decisive. Venus broke again and won the Billie Jean King Cup: 6-4, 3-6 and 7-5. Billie Jean King could not attend the event that carries her namen, let alone award the trophy, as the 67-year old tennis legend is recovering from a double-knee replacements.

"I can finally win this one", Venus said afterwards. "I have played a truly great opponent. Kim was playing very well. At some point in the second set I realised I had lost five games in a row. I had to regain my focus or otherwise I would have lost the match."

WII IS KIM CLIJSTERS?

Kim Clijsters: 'As the match went along, I started playing better.'

Kim had enjoyed the unique atmoshpere at Madison Square Garden. "It was an honour to play for the audience here. The match was good. Venus is always a tough opponent, a great athlete. No matter whether you're ahead or down, it is always a tough fight against her. It is these kind of matches for which you train hard."
 
"As the match went along, I started playing better. Venus was hitting the ball really hard and she moved very well, but her best weapon was her serve game", Kim analysed. In New York Kim also played Svetlana Kuznetsova... at least virtually. At Madison Square Garden both players showed the brand new Fila-Wii Tennis Game.

TWITTER

A couple of hours after the Billie Jean King Cup Kim tweeted about her experiences in New York. "Had a lot of fun at the Garden tonight playing Ana and Venus. This is the best city to play in and I'm happy my game is back to a good level."

Billie Jean King Cup - semi finals

Kim Clijsters (Bel) - Ana Ivanovic (Ser) 7-6 (7/2) Venus Williams (US) - Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus) 6-4

Billie Jean King Cup - Final

Venus Williams (US) - Kim Clijsters (Bel) 6-4, 3-6, 7-5