Flipkens Gets to Live Her Dream

Last summer when she was diagnosed with blood clots in her legs, Kirsten Flipkens seemed a spent force. Battling a life-threatening injury and with her career in complete bewilderment, the Belgian even considered hanging up the racket amidst this turbulent time. People slapped the door in her face, as they lost faith in her ability to fulfill her once huge potential. Flipkens, a prodigious junior with titles at Wimbledon and US Open in 2003, keep on believing though, knowing that she is destined for greatness. "I had lost the support of the federation and not many people still believed in me," Flipkens told wtatennis.com about the ordeal. "When everything is going well, everyone's your friend. But in hard times you learn who your friends are. But I knew I could fight back and prove them all wrong."
She overcame her health issues, started anew and returned to the spotlight to accompany her good friend, Kim Clijsters, into retirement at the US Open, where the two played doubles together. In late fall, the Belgian's comeback was gaining great momentum, as Kirsten saw a dream come true, winning her first WTA title in Quebec, beating Czech Lucie Hradecka in the final. She continued to turn milestones in 2013, reaching her maiden second week at a major, at the Australian Open, cracking the top 20 in June, and making the final of her "home" tournament in den Bosch, where she lost to Romanian Simona Halep. Nevertheless, nothing was really announcing her fairytale fortnight at Wimbledon.

Taking advantage of Azarenka's withdrawal following a nasty knee injury, the Belgian progressed through to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. She then produced a major upset, taking out the last Grand Slam winner left in the draw, the 2011 champion, Petra Kvitova. Although Kvitova started strong, the Czech eventually paid the price for her erratic display, allowing her opponent to level the match. Once on equal terms, Kirsten seized the opportunity. She hanged in tough in the decider, breaking Petra's serve before coming up with two aces to close out the biggest win of her career. Appearing in her first major semifinal, the talented Belgian seemed too overwhelmed to stand a chance against Marion Bartoli. She was completely outplayed by the determined Frenchwoman who came through 6-1,6-2 to reach her second Wimbledon final.

What a difference a year makes! If last season her No.262 ranking did not even get her into the Wimbledon qualies, 12 months later she's in the semifinals. "I think I still don't really realize what I've managed to go through today and what I've achieved today," she confessed during her press conference. "Last year, as everybody knows already, I didn't even get into the qualifying of Wimbledon. I was ranked No.262; today I'm a semifinalist in a Grand Slam. 

"It's a dream - more than a dream - coming true. There are no words. I never expected this to happen in my life. It was already a great performance that I managed to get into the fourth round in the Australian Open this year, but being in the semifinals of a Grand Slam, of the biggest tournament of the year, it has no words. I never expected I would come this far."

Although she did not win the trophy, Flipkens has won so much during these two weeks. It could very well be that this will remain the pinnacle of her career, but Kirsten has made a habit of proving everyone wrong, so she will surely seek to break new grounds.

Although she's beaten Kvitova in their last meeting, Kristen Flipkens produced another upset at Wimbledon, stunning the 2011 champion, 4-6,6-3,6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal.

Visibly bothered by a knee injury, the Belgian was crushed by the determined Marion Bartoli in their semifinal clash. The Frenchwoman won 6-1,6-2 to end Kristen's dream run at this year's Wimbledon.

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