Clijsters bids tennis farewell with Venus Williams win
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Belgium's Kim Clijsters holds a giant racket as she greets her supporters after winning an exhibition match against Venus Williams from the U.S. at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium, Wednesday Dec. 12, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
ANTWERP, Belgium (AFP) - Former world number one Kim Clijsters celebrated the end of her sparkling tennis career with a victory in an exhibition match against American rival Venus Williams on Wednesday.
The Belgian, who won 41 career singles titles, played her last official match at the US Open in August, but was keen to play for one last time in front of her home support.
With a crowd of 13,000 looking on, the 29-year-old beat Williams 6-3, 6-3. "I had no regrets at stopping my career on Aug 29 at the US Open, and I still don't have any. Sorry to stop you," said Clijsters.
"There's not just tennis in my life. I like cooking, gardening, reading, decorating the house, putting up the Christmas tree and running."
