Kirsten Flipkens – Season 2004

By Naomi C

Ranked just 379 currently on the WTA Tour one unfamiliar to tennis could be forgiven for overlooking the name Kirsten Flipkens, but hopefully in a years time that same mistake will not be accepted. Kirsten may be yet to win her first main draw match on the WTA Tour but with a string of successes behind her in 2003 she is ready to make her splash into the professional circuit.

In 2003 Kirsten became the first Belgian to ever be named the ITF Junior Girls Singles Champion after a stellar season which included winning both the Wimbledon and US Open Junior Titles. In fact not even her famous compatriots the top two ranked players in the world today Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters were able to achieve such a feat, however in their defence they had already finished their junior careers and well on the way to the top of the WTA rankings at the age of 17 which is how old Flipkens is.

Also in 2003 after Henin-Hardenne and Clijsters withdrew from the Belgian Federation Cup Team for the semi-final round in Moscow in late November, Flipkens jumped into the fold to enter the singles line up for Belgium alongside veteran Els Callens. Kirsten snared the opportunity to introduce herself to the world and earn the recognition off the opposing US Team Captain, legend Billie Jean-King that Kirsten is an incredible player and one to watch. In her match Kisten face top 20 player Meghannn Shaughnessy and pushed her all the way to 7-6 6-7 7-9, in fact one could claim the only thing Shaughnessy had in this match that Kirsten did not was experience. Experience is therefore something Kirsten is out to gain in 2004. Kirsten also finished runner up in a 25K tournament in Nottingham, Great Britain late in 2003. She has already pocketed two 25K tournament titles in her career both in 2002, in Koksijde, Belgium and Petange, Luxembourg. 

Kirsten has already accepted wildcards into both the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp and the Seat Open in Luxembourg in 2003. Although no announcement has yet been made there is little doubt Kirsten will once again be offered a wildcard into the singles draw in Antwerp and more than likely also into the doubles event most probably with Elke Clijsters with whom Kirsten won the 2002 Junior US Open girl’s doubles and also made the second round of the doubles in Antwerp as wildcards in 2003. As a result of finishing the year as the top ranked junior Kirsten is guaranteed three automatic entrances to three 75K events of her choice, hopefully Kirsten will use these wisely to gain experience and boost her ranking. Courtesy of her junior grand slam titles, Kirsten has a guaranteed start in both the Wimbledon and US Open qualifying draws. Kirsten is also likely to be selected for the Belgian Fed Cup team in 2004, when they take on Croatia at home. This time round Kirsten is most likely to not be selected in the singles line up, but will have the opportunity to play on the same team as her idol Kim Clijsters. Something Kirsten is sure to be looking forward to.

It may a bit too much to ask of Kirsten to expect her to finish 2004 in the top 100 ranked players, but if she uses her opportunities well, it is certainly not beyond expectation that she could finish the year in the top 200 or 150 ranked players and launch her attack into the top 100 in 2005.

Kirsten is not the biggest girl out there, but she has a deceiving serve for her size a big forehand and most importantly a big heart!