BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Former world number one Kim Clijsters announced her
immediate retirement from tennis on her Web site on Sunday.
Clijsters, 23, has struggled with injury over the last few years and had said
this season would be her last. The Belgian former U.S. Open champion, who is
getting married in July, had already pulled out of the French and U.S. 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