'Aussie Kim' to bid final farewell in Melbourne

BRUSSELS, Jan 10 (Reuters) World number five Kim Clijsters aims to put an injury-prone 2006 behind her when she launches her final Australian Open assault next week.

The Belgian's rollercoaster season, which was dogged by ankle and wrist injuries, began last term with a withdrawal at the semi-final stage in Melbourne with a sprained right ankle against the eventual champion Amelie Mauresmo.

Adopted as 'Aussie Kim' while engaged to Australian Lleyton Hewitt before the couple split up, the 23-year-old has not finished outside of the top four when competing at the first grand slam of the year since 2002.

Her best finish came in 2004 when she was runner-up to compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne.

Despite tipping her former lover as a possible contender for the men's crown in Melbourne, Clijsters has once again got weddings on her mind as she embarks on a final farewell season which will see her marry basketball player Brian Lynch in July.

The 2005 US Open champion was unable to defend her title at Flushing Meadows last September after a recurrence of an injury to her left wrist forced her out of action for over two months.

But she bounced back to claim victory on home soil at the Hasselt Cup -- her 33rd tour title.

She continued her remarkable recovery last week by winning an exhibition tournament in Hong Kong, but she says she still intends to hang up her racket once and for all at the end of the year, no matter what the outcome of her farewell season.

''This is it -- you'd better believe it,'' she told reporters ahead of this week's Sydney International.

Reuters DKS VP0740