Kim Clijsters began her professional tennis career in 1997 at the age of 14. As a junior player, she showed great promise, reaching the Wimbledon junior finals in 1998. Clijsters was known for her powerful groundstrokes, exceptional mobility, and strong defensive skills.
In this article, you will know Kim Clijisters’s net worth, salary, career earnings, contract, stats, wife, career overview, and more.
Kim Clijisters’ Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters |
| Date of Birth | 8 June 1983 |
| Age | 41 |
| Education | Focused on tennis; no formal higher degree |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Height | 5′ 8½″ (1.74 m) |
| Weight | 150 lbs (68 kg) |
| Turned Pro | 1997 |
| Net Worth | $20 million |
| Career Earnings | $24,545,194 |
| Husband | Brian Lynch |
| Instagram Profile | @kimclijsters |
| Twitter Profile | @Clijsterskim |
Early Career
Kim Clijsters grew up in Bilzen, Belgium, the daughter of a professional footballer father and a gymnast mother. She picked up a racket at age five and by her early teens was training full time at a Belgian tennis academy. In 1998 she won junior doubles honors at the French Open alongside Jelena Dokic and soon earned a top-five year-end junior ranking.
One week after turning sixteen, she qualified for Wimbledon 1999 as the youngest player in the top 200 and advanced to the fourth round, upsetting world No.10 Amanda Coetzer without dropping a set until facing Steffi Graf.
Just two months later, Clijsters captured her maiden WTA singles title at the Luxembourg Open in only her fourth professional event, delighting local fans with her speed, court coverage, and fighting spirit.
That maiden triumph earned her the WTA Newcomer of the Year award and set the stage for her rapid ascent up the world rankings through 2000 and beyond.
Professional Career
Turning professional in 1997 at age fourteen, Clijsters merged athleticism with relentless defense to forge one of the most versatile games on tour. She helped Belgium win its first Fed Cup crown in 2001, then reached world No.1 in both singles and doubles in August 2003, holding the singles top spot for twenty weeks overall.
Despite early Grand Slam final setbacks, she broke through at the 2005 US Open, clinching her first major after battling through injury and tough opponents.
She mounted an unforgettable comeback, winning the US Open as an unseeded wild card just 18 months after becoming a mother. She defended her title in 2010 and captured the 2011 Australian Open, becoming one of three mothers ever to win Grand Slam singles and the only mother to reclaim the No.1 ranking since 1975.
Along the way she claimed three WTA Tour Championships titles, earned eight Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Awards, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017.
Husband
Clijsters met American basketball player Brian Lynch while he was playing professionally in Belgium. Their friendship blossomed into romance, and they married on 13 July 2007 in a ceremony that brought together tennis stars and teammates.
Soon after exchanging vows, Kim announced her retirement to focus on family and welcomed her first child, daughter Jada Elle, in 2008.
Although stepping away from tennis at age twenty-three felt daunting, she embraced motherhood wholeheartedly and channeled her competitive drive into guiding her little girl’s early steps.
Kim Clijsters’ Net Worth Details
Kim Clijsters’ net worth is estimated to be between $20 million as of 2025.
Career Earnings
| Year | Earnings ($) |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 135,006 |
| 2000 | 418,503 |
| 2001 | 1,335,659 |
| 2002 | 1,754,376 |
| 2003 | 4,466,345 |
| 2004 | 787,366 |
| 2005 | 3,983,654 |
| 2006 | 1,463,492 |
| 2007 | 414,159 |
| 2009 | 1,632,560 |
| 2010 | 5,035,060 |
| 2011 | 2,325,741 |
| 2012 | 684,683 |
| Total | 24,545,194 |
Endorsements
Clijsters maintained a long-term apparel partnership with Fila, featuring signature footwear and on-court lines that reflected her athletic style. She also served as a global ambassador for SOS Children’s Villages, leveraging her status to support youth programs around the world. These endorsement and philanthropic roles have supplemented her tournament winnings, giving her a diversified off-court income stream.
Career Stats
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Singles Titles | 41 |
| Doubles Titles | 11 |
| Grand Slam Singles Titles | 4 |
| Grand Slam Doubles Titles | 2 |
| Fed Cup Titles | 1 |
| WTA Tour Championships Titles | 3 |
| Highest Singles Ranking | No.1 |
| Highest Doubles Ranking | No.1 |
| Career Singles Record | 523–132 |
| Career Doubles Record | 131–55 |
| Career Prize Money | $24,545,194 |
FAQs
1. How many Grand Slam singles and doubles titles did Kim Clijsters win?
Clijsters captured four Grand Slam singles crowns and two Grand Slam doubles titles during her career. She lifted the US Open trophy in 2005, 2009 and 2010 before adding the Australian Open crown in 2011. In doubles she teamed with Ai Sugiyama to win both Wimbledon and the French Open.
2. When did Clijsters first become world No. 1 in singles and what made that milestone notable?
Clijsters first ascended to world No. 1 on 11 August 2003 and held the top spot for twenty weeks. Remarkably, she achieved the singles summit without having yet won a major title and simultaneously held the No. 1 ranking in doubles, a rare feat on the WTA Tour.
3. Who is Kim Clijsters married to and how many children do they have?
Clijsters is married to former American basketball player Brian Lynch. The couple has three children together: daughter Jada and sons Jack and Blake. They balance a transatlantic family life split between Belgium and New Jersey, blending Lynch’s coaching career with Clijsters’ youth tennis initiatives.
4. What achievements did Clijsters accomplish after her 2009 comeback?
Returning as an unseeded wild card in 2009, Clijsters stunned the sport by winning the US Open that year. She successfully defended her title in 2010 and then claimed the 2011 Australian Open, a run that propelled her back to world No. 1 and underscored her resilience.
5. What unique records does Clijsters hold as a mother in professional tennis?
Clijsters is one of only three mothers ever to win a Grand Slam singles title and shares the record for most major singles trophies by a mother, with three. She remains the only mother to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking since official WTA rankings began in 1975.
