In an era when records, money or the cult of celebrity have driven many athletes to prolong their careers long after they have passed their peak, Kim Clijsters proved there is more to life than being a professional athlete.
Not since Swedish great Bjorn Borg turned his back on the sport in 1982 aged just 26 has a top player walked away from tennis at such a young age.
In fact Clijsters has even beaten Bjorg's feat, calling it quits on Sunday aged just 23.
Just as Borg was worn down by his lack of privacy and loss in motivation, the popular Belgian yearned for a normal domestic life and got fed up with her constant battle against injuries.
Photographs: Getty Images | Text: Reuters
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