[KIM ] Former world number one Clijsters quits tennis
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Former world number one Kim Clijsters announced her
immediate retirement from tennis on her Web site 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.
Although Clijsters won only one grand slam -- the 2005 U.S. Open -- she
reached four other finals and six additional semi-finals. She also won the
season-ender twice in a 10-year professional career highlighted by fierce
rivalry with compatriot Justine Henin.
"Money is important, but not the most important thing in my life. Health and
a private life are more important."
JULY WEDDING
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.
She added then that 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 herself to tournaments in Luxembourg and
Stuttgart in late September and early October. She said she could yet attend,
albeit from the stands.
"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 to marry. Children? Time for cooking and playing with my dogs. And
particularly a lot of time with my friends and family. No more traveling. No
more stepping in and out of planes. No more having to read gossip or lies in
the papers."
Henin said on Sunday that Clijsters had been an important presence throughout
her tennis career.
"I have a lot of respect for what she did in her career, as a player, as a
person. We've almost grown up together and I think we've helped each other to
come to another level because we pushed each other always to play better,"
Henin told reporters at the Warsaw Cup.
"I think it's been a good concurrence for us and she's been a great player
and it's time for now to turn the page and do something else in her life and
everyone has to respect that.
"She did a lot for the game, for Belgian tennis for sure, and I think I will
have great memories of her that I will keep. It's a very special day today."
Updated on Sunday, May 6, 2007 12:17 pm EDT
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