Kirsten Flipkens photo by Cristiano Andujar/Foto Arena
By Barbara Galiza
(February 26, 2013) Florianópolis – This week, at 27, Kirsten Flipkens reached the highest ranking of her career – 31st – and became Belgium’s No. 1 tennis player for the first time. Her happiness, however, was short-lived. Complaining of a right leg injury, Flipkens fell in three sets in WTA Florianópolis’ first round. After the loss, she talked about her relationship with countrywoman Kim Clijsters and her sudden rise in the WTA rankings.
“Last year I was ranked 262 and now I’m 31, it’s a great step. I don’t know what changed, I was just trying to focus on my game”, said Flipkens. “I’ve had lots of injuries in the past couple of years and now everything was falling into pieces. I quit with the (Belgian Tennis) Federation and I now have the right people around me. That made a difference.”
In Florianópolis, the Belgian lost to Olga Puchkova, from Russia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Since her next tournament is Indian Wel
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