The New York Queen Smiles Goodbye

Playing her last tournament before retirement, Kim Clijsters entered this year's US Open as the crowd's favourite. Throughout the years, the three times champion, the Belgian mesmerised the New York audience with her irresistible smile and tenacious groundstrokes. 

Since capturing the Australian Open title in 2011 though, Kim's career has been marred with injuries and setbacks. Only this year she missed the entire claycourt season, before returning to dash away her Wimbledon and Olympic dreams. The Belgian remained positive though and cheered by a buoyant crowd she hoped to end her career in style. However, things didn't go according to plan and her singles adventure was cut short in the second round by a mega inspired Laura Robson. Robson, a Wimbledon champion at 14th, won in straight sets, two tiebreaks in which she kept mentally tough to end Kimmie's 22-match win streak at Flushing Meadows. 

Out of the singles draw, she focused on doubles, with both the women's doubles and the mixed-doubles competitions in full swing. Her doubles adventure came shortly to an end though as she and compatriot, Kristen Flipkens, were beaten by Chia-Jung Chuang and Shuai Zhang in their opener. Probably her biggest shot at glory was in the mixed, where she teamed up with American Bob Bryan. After an easy win in the first round, they run into deep troubles in the next round, being outlasted in the end by Ekaterina Makarova and Bruno Soares.

With the loss, Kim Clijsters takes her final bow, New York loses its Queen and the tennis world loses one of its finest champion. Thank you Kim for all the great memories!

Clijsters played her last singles match against shining young star, Laura Robson, who produced the best performance of her life to defeat the Belgian 7-6,7-6. The loss marks the end Kim's tremendous career.

After losing early in singles, Clijsters focused entirely on the mixed-doubles where she teamed up with American Bob Bryan. Although they were aiming at the title, they lost surprisingly early, succumbing to Ekaterina Makarova and Bruno Soares in the second round.

photos (top-down): GETTY IMAGES (x2), Belga (x2)