Clijsters: This should be my last full season

Nick Mulvenney

Kim Clijsters, who takes on Li Na in the final of the Australian Open this weekend, said that this year would probably be her last full one on the women's tour.

The 27-year-old (pictured), who returned after a two-year retirement in 2009, said earlier this month she hoped to play on for four more years but today she indicated her involvement in the game might be reduced after this year.

"I know this is probably going to be my last full season on the tour, and then we'll see," she said. "You know, it's nice that I'm in this spot to reach the final, to play for the title."

Clijsters, who will be playing for her fourth grand slam title against China's Li tomorrow, originally retired in 2007 after suffering several injuries.

She returned in August 2009 and won her second US Open in her third event back and then went on to defend her Flushing Meadows title last year.

Inspired by Clijsters, her Belgian compatriot Justine Henin also made a comeback for last year, but the seven-time grand slam champion retired for a second time this week on medical advice because of an elbow injury.

Clijsters, who lost to Henin in the 2004 Australian Open final, said she accepted injuries as part of being a top athlete.

"I had injuries before, so when I started again I knew that that could be part of the second career as well," she said. "It's not all the beautiful things that I thought of when I started again."

The former world number one has also made it quite clear, however, that her family -- she had daughter Jada during her two years off -- was now her her priority.

Clijsters' semi-final win means she will become the world number two.