BREE (Belgium) - FORMER world No.1 Kim Clijsters of Belgium announced her return to competitive tennis on Thursday, almost two years after retiring from the sport at just 23-years-old.

'I intend to play in the US Open and almost certainly in the tournaments at Cincinnati (early August) - my first official tournament back - and Tornoto,' she told a press conference in her hometown.

'I have been practicing on a regular basis with my training partner Wim Fissette and by physical coach Sam Verslegers, sometimes as much as six hours a day. The desire is back!'

The right-hander, famous for her trademark splits defensive play, won 34 WTA tournaments and 11 doubles' crowns, including the 2005 US Open title when she defeated French player Mary Pierce 6-3, 6-1 at Flushing Meadows.

She also won the 2002 and 2003 women's season-ending tour championship title.

Clijsters lost four Grand Slam finals notably the 2003 French Open and US Open championship matches, as well as the 2004 Australian Open to compatriot and rival Justine Henin, who has also since retired.

She reached the top of the world rankings in August 2003 and had a record of 427 wins against 104 defeats as well as having the rare dinstinction of holding the number one spot in both singles and doubles in 2003.

But sidelined by a succession of injuries and eager to start a family with new husband Brian Lynch, an American basketball player, she abrubtly announced her retirement in May 2007.

Clijsters married Lynch in 2007 and the couple celebrated the birth of their daughter Jade Elie in February 2008.

At just 25, Clijsters is almost two years younger than Williams and has time on her side in possibly regaining the world No.1 position and adding to her Grand Slam collection. -- AFP