Kim Clijsters To Face Garbine Muguruza On Tough Return In Dubai

Kim Clijsters, a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, has not competed on Tour since the 2012 US Open

Kim Clijsters to face Garbine Muguruza on tough return in Dubai

Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters. Image: AFP

Kim Clijsters faces an unexpectedly tough first match on her comeback after seven years out in Dubai this week - against Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza.

Clijsters, 36, had been due to play Kiki Bertens but the eighth-ranked Dutch player withdrew after reaching the Sunday final in St Petersburg.

Her absence moved tournament wild card Muguruza into the draw opposite Clijsters, the four-time Grand Slam singles champion and mother-of-three who is making a return after last competing at the 2012 US Open.

Spain's Muguruza, a two-time Major winner, becomes the ninth seed and will take on Clijsters in the first round at the Aviation Club.

Top seed Simona Halep and number two Karolina Pliskova both have byes into the second round.

RECENT NEWS

World Padel Academy Makes History With Two FIP Tournaments In Two Nations In one Week

Over the course of one electrifying week, the FIP Silver Damac Dubai and FIP Bronze Durrat Al Bahrain tournaments b... Read more

Dubais JA Resorts Invests AED300m In New Multi-sport Complex

The JA Sports & Shooting Club will feature international-standard football and cricket grounds, an indoor shooting ... Read more

Spartan Race Middle East Draws Over 5,500 Participants To Bab Al Shams Event

The event, set in a Colosseum-inspired arena against the desert backdrop of Bab Al Shams, featured race waves from morn... Read more

Metallica In Abu Dhabi: Rock Icons Confirmed As Saturday Headliner For Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2025

Benson Boone will open the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concert on Thursday, December 4, with Katy Perry closing the... Read more

Benson Boone In Abu Dhabi: American Singer To Headline F1 Grand Prix After-race Concert

Boone has established himself as a major figure in contemporary music with over ten billion global streams Read more

Dubai Marathon 2026 Registration Open

Dubai Marathon opens registration for historic 25th edition, set to be run on February 1, 2026 Read more