The Hindu : Sport : Kim Clijsters announces retirement from the game

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Monday, May 07, 2007
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Kim Clijsters announces retirement from the game

BRUSSELS: Former world number one Kim Clijsters announced her immediate retirement from tennis on her website on Sunday.

Clijsters, 23, has struggled with injury over the last few years and had said this season would be her last. The Belgian former U.S. Open champion, who is getting married in July, had already pulled out of the French and U.S. Opens.

``It has been more than great. The rackets will be hung up,'' Clijsters told her web diary (www.sport.be/kimclijsters) .

She said recurrent injuries and the need to stretch for an hour every morning, along with preparations for her forthcoming wedding, had made it harder to carry on.

``Stopping aged almost 24 is pretty young but it has been wonderful. It would be easy to go on for a few more months and take in the four big earners in tennis,'' Clijsters wrote, referring to the remaining Grand Slams and the end-of-season Masters.

Sole Grand Slam title

Although Clijsters won only one Grand Slam — the 2005 U.S. Open — she reached four other finals and six additional semifinals. She also won the season-ender twice in a 10-year professional career highlighted by fierce rivalry with compatriot Justine Henin.

Clijsters won the 2002 and 2003 WTA Championships as part of her career 34 singles titles.

She was Belgium's first tennis player to reach No. 1, holding the top-ranked spot for 19 weeks in 2003.

Health important

``Money is important, but not the most important thing in my life. Health and a private life are more important.''

Clijsters said last week she did not want to risk getting injured again and having to wear a cast at her wedding to American basketball player Brian Lynch.

But she added then she planned to play at Eastbourne and Wimbledon in June. She had even mooted competing in the doubles at what would have been her final Grand Slam.

Sunday's announcement means the Belgian played her last tournament in Warsaw last week, where she was defending the Warsaw Cup but looked short of form and lost in the second round to Ukrainian qualifier Julia Vakulenko.

Clijsters had also committed to tournaments in Luxembourg and Stuttgart in late September and early October. She said she could yet attend, albeit from the stands.

Big party

``But I'm not going away without saying farewell to you and so I'm inviting you once more to a big party in September,'' she told her fans.

Then she will retreat into a private life for which she is clearly yearning.

Time for cooking

``Time to marry. Children? Time for cooking and playing with my dogs. And particularly a lot of time with my friends and family. No more travelling. No more stepping in and out of planes. No more having to read gossip or lies in the papers.''

``The most beautiful memories of my career?'' She wrote on her Web site. ``Many victories in tournaments, grand slams in singles and doubles as well as being world No. 1 in singles and doubles. — Agencies

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