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Susan Mullane/Camerawork
USA |
Siggi Bucher |
Cynthia Lum/WireImage.com |
Mal Taam/MALTphoto |
| Kim Clijsters through
the years. |
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Tennis loses its sweetheart:
Clijsters retires at 23
Belgian
bows out with only one Slam
and several near-misses
By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net
The writing was on the wall and not even Kim Clijsters
could recognize her own scrawl. On Sunday, the '05 US Open champ announced her
immediate retirement. After failing to win her second Slam crown at the Aussie
Open, the 23-year-old lost her motivation and has decided to focus all her attention
on her July wedding to American baseketball player Brian Lynch and her tennis
afterlife.
"It has been more than great. The rackets will
be hung up," Clijsters said. "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. Money is important,
but not the most important thing in my life. Health and a private life
are more important."
The following articles capture three critical
periods during Clijsters career: her thoughts about her life transition
during the '07 Aussie Open; her only Slam win at the '05 US Open and
her '05 comeback past wrist surgery and her break-up from her fiancée,
men's star Lleyton Hewitt.
 THE
TR NEWSLETTER: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2007, NO. 215
Kim Clijsters' last waltz
• On [Henin's coach] Rodriguez comments:
'Loathsome'
• On retirement: 'I don't want to be the kind of person
who continues a lifestyle that I like, but is not my
top priority'
• On tennis afterlife: 'I have to know that I'm going to be
good at something and I just don't want to do it because
people want to use my name'
us open 2005, day 13
Clijsters comes of age,
wins first Slam at
US Open
Dehous: ‘It’s the best thing that
can
every happen to her finally’
FROM THE US OPEN – Maybe the
only person who knew that Kim Clijsters would eventually win a Grand Slam
title was the 22-year-old herself.
She’s had the physical talent to so for the past three years, but mentally
was unable to impose herself in four previous attempts.
THE
TennisReporters.net NEWSLETTER:
thursDAY, MARCH 10, 2005, NO. 118
exclusive
With Hewitt behind her, happy
Clijsters looks to bright future
Kim:' I believe everything will turn out
positive for both sides'
FROM THE PACIFIC LIFE OPEN AT INDIAN WELLS – On Thursday,
Kim Clijsters might run into Lleyton Hewitt for the first time
since she ended their engagement last fall. If not on Thursday
when Hewitt arrives at the Pacific Life Open to discuss his new
engagement to actress Bec Cartwright and why he just parted ways
with his longtime management firm, Octagon, there will be another
time when tennis' most famous ex-couple cross paths. Clijsters
will be fine with it. |
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