Kim Clijsters quits tennis

BRUSSELS – Former world number one Kim Clijsters announced her immediate retirement from tennis on her website yesterday.

Clijsters, 23, has struggled with injury over the last few years and had said this season would be her last. The Belgian former US Open champion, who is getting married in July, had already pulled out of the French and US 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 US 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.Nampa-ReutersThe Belgian former US Open champion, who is getting married in July, had already pulled out of the French and US 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 US 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.Nampa-Reuters