Kim Clijsters’ career officially is over. Now she can savor her retirement, after she and Bob Bryan lost their second-round mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open to Ekaterina Makarova and Bruno Soares 6-2, 3-6, 12-10.
With Clijsters’ husband and daughter in the stands, she and Bryan has staved off four match points in the super-tiebreaker. But after the four-time Grand Slam champion netted a return on the fifth to see her career end, she said she is completely at peace with her decision, despite being just 29 years old.
“It feels right, I can’t describe it in any other way,’’ said Clijsters, who announced the Open will be her last tournament. “It feels right. It’s surprising that I’ve kept [my face] dry. I haven’t been crying. I think that’s just another sign that it’s the right choice.’’
After losing in singles Wednesday, she and Kirsten Flipkens lost in the first round of women’s doubles Thursday. Last night she appeared the most relaxed of the lot, joking and kidding with her partner Bryan.
“It was a lot more relaxed obviously than my singles,’’ Clijsters said. “In my singles, I was still so focused. Even afterwards, I knew that my singles career was over, but I was really focused on trying to do well in doubles and mixed. There was no partying yet or anything.’’