Clijsters ends career on an emotional high

Former world number one Kim Clijsters celebrated the end of her extraordinary tennis career yesterday with victory in an exhibition match against American rival – and friend – Venus Williams. Clijsters, who won 41 career singles titles, took to the court for her last official match at the US Open in August, but wanted to play one last time in front of her home support. With a crowd of 13,000 at Antwerp’s Sportpaleis looking on, the 29-year-old beat Williams 6-3 6-3. “I had no regrets at stopping my career on August 29 at the US Open, and I still don’t have any,” said Clijsters. “There’s not just tennis in my life. I like cooking, gardening, reading, decorating the house, putting up the Christmas tree and running.” Clijsters retired for the first time in 2007 to give birth to daughter Jada, with no plans to return, as she felt she had accomplished her grand-slam dream with a 2005 US Open title. But she returned in 2009 and took the US Open crown – becoming the first mother to win a grand slam since Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 – then defended the title in 2010 and added the 2011 Australian Open for good measure.

(AAP)