Clijsters is a mother first, an athlete second

Kim Clijsters considers herself a mother first, a tennis player second.

Yes, the Belgian is the defending champion and seeded No 2 at the US Open, making her a popular pick to win the year's last Grand Slam tournament, which begins on Monday.

And, yes, she considers herself obligated to help promote her sport by offering to do things such as throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game, which was on her schedule on Friday when the New York Mets hosted the Houston Astros. None of that, though, is as important to Clijsters as her 2-year-old daughter, Jada.