Clijsters beats Venus Williams in farewell game

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Former No. 1 Kim Clijsters ended her career with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Venus Williams in a ceremonial farewell match.

Clijsters retired after the U.S. Open but organized a match to thank her fans, 13,000 of whom turned up at Antwerp Sports Palace, including Crown Prince Phillipe and Princess Mathilde.

In a lighthearted encounter, Clijsters was always going to come out on top but still wowed the crowd with the kind of play that made her famous before injuries got the best of her at 29.

Clijsters beat Williams on the way to her last two U.S. Open titles, in 2009 and 2010, and she held a 7-6 edge over the American on the WTA Tour. She also won at Flushing Meadow in 2005 and captured the 2011 Australian Open.