Kim Clijsters of Belgium has been voted the woman tennis player of the year for the second time in her career, governing body WTA announced Wednesday.
Clijsters, who first earned the accolade in 2005 and came out of retirement last year, won five trophies 2010, highlighted by a third US Open title.
“It’s really nice to win the Player of the Year award just one year after making a comeback and while I didn’t think it would come so quickly, I am thrilled with the news,” the 27-year-old Clijsters said.
Compatriot Justine Henin, also back in action from a two-year hiatus, was named Comeback Player of the Year and Czech Wimbledon semi-finalist Petra Kvitova took the Newcomer of the Year award. The doubles award went to Gisela Dulko of Argentina and Italian Flavia Pennetta.
The winners are determined in a poll by the global tennis media.
