(Adds with later matches)
By Steve Ginsburg and Will Swanton
NEW YORK Aug 29 (Reuters) – British teenager Laura Robson
drew the curtain on Kim Clijsters’ illustrious singles career on
Wednesday by eliminating the former world number one from the
U.S. Open as other top guns encountered little resistance.
While Victoria Azarenka and David Ferrer cruised to
straight-sets victories at Flushing Meadows, Belgian Clijsters
had tears in her eyes after her shock 7-6 7-6 defeat in the
second round.
The three-times U.S. Open champion remains in the doubles
and mixed doubles draw but the loss to Robson was her final
singles match before she quits the tour grind to concentrate on
family life.
Clijsters saved two match points in the 12th game of the
second set with a searing forehand volley and a huge first
serve.
The match-deciding tiebreak overflowed with tension as she
fought to extend her career but Robson, the world number 89
playing with fearless aggression and pinpoint accuracy,
converted her third match point and it was all over for the
29-year-old Belgian.
“I have played some of my best tennis here and some of my
best matches,” Clijsters said.
“It is a place that has inspired me. This feels like the
perfect place to retire – but I just wish it wasn’t today.
Continued…
