Clijsters’ Good Deed

If there was an award for “The Good Deed of the Week,” top-seeded Kim Clijsters of Belgium would be the clear cut winner.

On Thursday night as part of the Acura Classic’s fourth annual charity event to benefit the Scripps Polster Breast Care Center, a Black Labrador puppy was auctioned off in between the night session matches.

During the charity dinner earlier in the evening at the La Costa Resort and Spa, Clijsters noticed the puppy had taken a liking to a woman attending the function.

She met the woman, Jackie Morgan of nearby Cardiff. Later, Clijsters learned that Morgan’s nine-year-old Black Labrador “Kimba” had died the year before.

At the on-court auction, hosted by former tennis stars and current ESPN2 broadcasters Mary Joe Fernandez and Pam Shriver, the top seeded Belgian joined in the bidding, which had reached several thousand dollars, for the Black Labrador puppy named Ace. 

Finally, when the bidding reached $11,000, Clijsters made the winning bid. Upon receiving Ace, she called out to Morgan, who was in the stands, to come down to the court.