Clijsters beats Venus Williams in farewell match

Kim Clijsters holds a giant racket as she greets her fans after winning her exhibition finale.

Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP

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 in Belgium.

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 the lighthearted encounter, Clijsters was destined to win but still wowed the crowd with the play that made her famous before injuries added to her retirement 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 earned the 2011 Australian Open crown.

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