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Clijsters Coaches Volynets at French Open
27 May
Summary
- Katie Volynets has Kim Clijsters coaching her at the 2026 French Open.
- Volynets faces tough opponent Marta Kostyuk in the second round.
- Clijsters' return to coaching is a surprise, having previously worked with Belgians.
Katie Volynets, currently ranked 56th in the WTA, is being coached by Belgian tennis legend Kim Clijsters for the 2026 French Open. This surprising partnership was months in the making, and Volynets expressed her excitement that it has come to fruition in Paris. Volynets is set to face a difficult second-round opponent, Marta Kostyuk, the Mutua Madrid Open champion. Volynets did defeat Kostyuk previously on hard courts in 2024, but Kostyuk is in peak form on clay this season.
Clijsters' decision to coach Volynets has raised eyebrows, as she has historically mentored only Belgian players, including Elise Mertens. This coaching engagement appears to be a temporary role for Clijsters, who is making a return to the sport after recovering from two Achilles tears. The French Open match between Volynets and Kostyuk will feature female coaches on both sides, a notable occurrence in professional tennis.
