Loss at U.S. Open Sends Clijsters Into Retirement
Kim Clijsters lost 7-6(4), 7-6(5) to 18-year-old Laura Robson of Great Britain in the second round of the U.S. Open Wednesday night, and will head into retirement after she finishes playing doubles at Flushing Meadows. She walked away from the sport once before, in May 2007, then returned after a hiatus of two-plus years. Now 29 years of age, the Belgian insisted this season that she means it this time, and decided the U.S. Open—and its hard courts that she conquered on the way to three championships—would be her final tournament.
"I’m happy that in the last year and a half or even two years, it’s been kind of up and down, and I’m happy that I stuck through it and I was able to kind of live a lot of these emotions that I’ve had in these 18 months or so," said Clijsters. "Kind of in a way proud of myself that I was able to do that. I feel happy. I have doubles tomorrow, so I got to stay focused."
The loss Wednesday ended Clijsters’ 22-match winning streak in New York, encompassing titles in 2005, 2009 and 2010, plus Monday’s first-round victory.
“Kim always displayed grace and character on and off the court," said USTA Chairman of the Board Jon Vegosen. "So It’s appropriate that Arthur Ashe Stadium brought out her best, because she embodies so many of Arthur’s qualities. We will miss this great champion, and wish Kim and her family all the best.”
On Thursday, Clijsters will be pairing up with fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipkens as they face Chia-Jung Chuang & Shuai Zhang on Court 4 in women’s doubles action.
"Just kind of being home, I guess, being home and kind of having that routine for my family, you know, for our daughter," said Clijsters on her post-tennis life. "I’m sure in two months I’m going to be like, ‘Ah…’ But I told my husband, ‘Look, I’ve been traveling since I’m 11 years old. Every so often I need to go stay in a hotel where I can just go and line up for breakfast and don’t have to set up and clean the table, make up the beds every day, all that. I enjoy that. I enjoy it a lot when I come back from a long trip. I want to do it. I look forward to kind of that next chapter, as well, where I can help younger kids and girls who would like to be in our shoes and live."
Credit all photos to Kenneth B. Goldberg
Great Britain’s Laura Robson during her 7-6(4), 7-6(5) win over Kim Clijsters at the 2012 U.S. Open
Kim Clijsters shakes hands with Laura Robson after her final women’s singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
