Kim Clijsters made a surprise return to Roland Garros this week for the 2026 French Open, with the International Tennis Hall of Famer joining rising US star Katie Volynets as her new coach.
Fans first noticed the four-time Grand Slam champion sitting in the player's box during the opening round, watching as Volynets started her tournament with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory over Clara Burel.
Following the win, 24-year-old Volynets revealed the collaboration had been in development for several months.
"We have been planning it since like last November," Volynets said in her postmatch press conference. "So, I’m just really happy to have her here, it’s amazing."
The move marks a shift in strategy for Clijsters. Historically, the Belgian icon has only coached players from her home country, such as Elise Mertens. She's mentored others, but her last official appointment for a player not from her home country came during Sorana Cirstea's 2018 Wimbledon run.
Clijsters's latest return follows a lengthy recovery from two separate Achilles tendon tears suffered last year.
Katie Volynets Falls to Marta Kostyuk in Roland Garros 2nd Round
Volynets previously reached a career-high WTA ranking of No. 56 in 2024. She hoped to leverage Clijsters's elite championship experience to make a deep run on the clay courts.
However, their team-up faced an immediate test in the French Open's second round.
Volynets faced reigning Madrid Open champion Marta Kostyuk on Wednesday. Although the US standout won their recent 2024 China Open matchup, Kostyuk entered the match in peak form, outlasting Volynets in a grueling three-set battle.
While the loss marks the young hopeful's Roland Garros exit, it's unclear if her partnership with Clijsters will extend beyond the Paris Grand Slam.
