Francois Nel/Getty Images
After nearly eight years away, Kim Clijsters, now a mother of three, returned to the tennis tour on Monday.
She lost in straight sets in the opening round of the WTA event in Dubai, but her 6-2, 7-6 (6) defeat to Garbiñe Muguruza felt more like a triumph than a letdown.
There were signs of rust, including 10 double faults. But how could there not be, considering Clijsters played her last official singles match in August 2012, when Muguruza was still a teenager?
More intriguing, there were big hints that Clijsters could still hold her own at this elite level.