Hall of Famer Clijsters has wild card for Miami Open

For the first time since 2012, former Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters is set to compete at the Miami Open.

Clijsters, who recently ended her seven-year hiatus from tennis, was granted a wild card position on Wednesday for the Miami Open, which is scheduled for March 22-April 4 at Hard Rock Stadium. The former world No. 1 jump-started her second comeback from retirement a year ago but played in limited events due to the restrictions and interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three-time WTA Finals champion has compiled 41 singles titles and 11 doubles titles throughout her career, including four Grand Slam singles titles and two Grand Slam doubles titles.

The International Tennis Hall of Famer was selected as the WTA Newcomer of the Year in 1999 as well as Player of the Year in 2005 and 2010.

Clijsters, 37, was crowned women’s singles champion at the Miami Open in 2005 and 2010.

“We are very excited to have Kim returning to Miami,” Miami Open tournament director James Blake said in a statement. “She is a tremendous player and an even better person. Plus, it’s not often you get the opportunity to see someone who has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame compete at an event of this level.”

Clijsters joins an impressive women’s field that includes Boca Raton’s Naomi Osaka, Palm Beach Gardens’ Serena and Venus Williams as well as current world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty.

Qualifying rounds will be held March 22-March 23 and will determine the 12 additional spots in each singles’ draw. The women’s main draw begins March 23, while the first round for the men will start March 24.

FRANKLIN II/AP FRANK Kim Clijsters returns a shot to Ekaterina Alexandrova during their firstround match at the U.S. Open last September in New York.