“What Roger Federer is doing is incredible” Judy Murray analyses Kim Clijsters chances of a succesful comeback

Judy Murray says that if Roger Federer can do it at 38 then why can’t Kim Clijsters at 36, as she talks to tennishead in this exclusive interview

Roger Federer is still winning Grand Slams at 38 years old so this bodes well for Kim Clijsters as she starts her latest comeback to professional tennis at the age of 36. That’s according to the mother of Grand slam winners Andy and Jamie Murray.

Judy Murray was talking to tennishead from The Campus at Quinta do Lago where she runs holidays tennis camps.

We asked her if she thought Kim Clijsters could be as succesful in her latest comeback as other top tennis pro’s of the same age?

“When you look at what Serena and Venus have done and the level that they are both still playing at and still loving what they are doing I think anything is possible. If you are healthy, fit and passionate about doing it then there is no reason why not.

“I read that at the opening of the new Court 1 at Wimbledon that Kim (Clijsters), Venus (Williams), Jamie (Murray) and Martina (Hingis) played in, Venus had said to Kim that she was playing so well she should come back on tour and now she’s decided to do just that. It’s a big commitment with 3 kids and her own academy. She’s always been involved with tennis through her retirement and will be a popular addition to the tour and all eyes will be on her to see how she does She’ll be coming into it with different eyes.

“She’s got all the experience of winning Grand Slams, she knows what it takes and I imagine in lots of ways she’ll be more relaxed because she knows what’s ahead of her. Her passion for the game is I’m sure what’s driving her to comeback.

“I read that she had missed competing and you look at what Roger Federer is doing at 38 years old to me its incredible. With all the advances in sports science and medicine people are able to stay in great athletic shape for much longer than they maybe were 15 to 20 years ago. I will be very pleased to see her back because she was one of my favourite players to watch.”

Judy Murray was coaching at The Campus in Portugal last week where she’s been running her unique style of tennis camps for the past 12 months.

She says, “It’s a very attractive set up for the tennis at The Campus with the 4 hard courts and the 2 clay courts and a club house called the Pavilion. It’s lovely, you can sit outside and see everything that’s going on across the courts so whether that’s parents watching kids playing or adults watching other adults it’s just a really chilled place to be which has helped create a nice atmosphere. The Portuguese coaching team is good, the head coach is a very good player and coach with a nice easy manner who is very popular with everybody and you need somebody like that who pulls the whole thing together”.

The Campus is one of Europe’s newest state-of-the-art multi- sports venues, created for elite athletes, teams and families. It is already becoming popular with Premier League football and rugby teams, Olympic and Para-Olympic squads, performance athletes and coaches taking advantage of the perfect training climate and using The Campus as their winter training base.

The recently opened High Performance Centre has cemented The Campus’ reputation as the outstanding location for holidaymakers looking for the ultimate sporting break, with dance classes, yoga, swimming and state-of-the-art saunas, steam rooms and wellness areas adding to the appeal.

All visitors will experience world-class tennis and padel courts, a wonderful cycling centre led by Paralympic gold medallist Mark Rohan, as well as a top-class swimming facility and a wellness section of the High Performance Centre that offers all visitors the chance to unwind a er an exhausting work-out.

Guests can stay at the magnificent The Magnolia Hotel, situated on the doorstep of The Campus and Quinta do Lago resort. It has a range of accommodation including 74 comfortable rooms, three suites and seven cottages. The rooms have been fully refurbished recently and the five-star service will help guests unwind and de-stress at the end of their day. There is a free shuttle bus service to The Campus for all guests.

For more information please contact T: +351 289 381 220 | E: [email protected] or visit www.quintadolago.com/en/the-campus

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