Bragging Rights

Big day in tennis. Kim Clijsters, the well-loved Belgian professional tennis player, has made an amazing return to the WTA circuit after being gone for more than two years. During this time away she got married, had a daughter and lost her dad to cancer. A lot of major life changes and challenges for a young girl in her mid twenties. Then she was asked to help inaugurate the new covered stadium at Wimbledon. And when Wimbledon comes a callin', of course you says YES! So she started training a bit, and as they story goes, she got better and better and before she knew it, the desire to play professionally again came back. Here she is, after training for 7 months.

But this is not just your average come-back. After just two days back on tour, Kim's photos and feats are splashed across media all around the world, as she has easily beaten two top players in her first two matches at the Cincinnati tournament. Huge! And I am a huge fan.

Would I really write that about in my blog? Well, not really. I wouldn't. Because I know that most people don't care as much as I do, even if they are tennis fans. The thing is, if it weren't for my little niece in Belgium, who happens to be an excellent tennis player as well, I would have skipped blogging about Kim.

But I cannot! The same day Kim is all over the papers, my little niece is in the same Belgian paper too.

Also for being a great tennis player! That is huge too!

My niece Karen is only 12 and plays and wins all kinds of tournaments in our home country of Belgium. This week, she was interviewed and photographed for the paper, and I would not be an aunt if I did not make a big deal about it! I know the article is in Flemish, but I can tell you it talks about her accomplishments in tennis, and her desire to keep improving.

We are just so thrilled we can hardly stand it!

Go Kim! Go Karen!