US Open: Clijsters Crashes, Bows Out

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Three-time U.S Open champion, Kim Clijsters announced her retirement from tennis after she lost to Laura Robson of Great Britain.

Ronson won in two competitive sets over. The 18-year-old Robson won by scores of 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5).

Clijsters, 29, had said this would be her last Grand Slam tournament in the singles draw. She is still entered in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles draw.

The Belgian had won the championship the last three times she played the U.S. Open (2005, 2009, 2010). She missed the other years due to her first retirement, and last year due to injury.

“This completely feels like the perfect place to retire, I just wish it wasn’t today,” Clijsters said in the courtside interview at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which was interrupted by a prolonged ovation from the court.

The popular Clijsters also won the 2011 Australian Open among her eight appearances in Grand Slam finals.

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Her previous defeat at Flushing Meadows came against Belgian rival Justine Henin on Sept. 6, 2003, in the tournament final. Robson was 9 at the time.

In August 2009, Clijsters was back on tour; unseeded and unranked, because she only played in two previous tournaments during her comeback, she won that year’s U.S. Open.

“It’s the place that has inspired me so much to do well and to do great things. It’s hard to explain sometimes why,” Clijsters said.

When the contest ended on Wednesday with Clijsters sailing a backhand return long, allowing Robson to convert her third match point, they met at the net. Clijsters began to extend her arm for the customary handshake, and Robson pulled her in for a hug.

“I want to thank Kim,” Robson told the crowd moments later, “for being such a great role model to me for so many years.”

Against Robson she fought off two match points at 5-6 in the second set and was briefly ahead in the tiebreaker, but the teen hit an unbelievable forehand down the line on the penultimate point of the match to help seal the result.

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