When the final return of Kim Clijsters’ illustrious career sailed long and the three-time U.S. Open champion was sent into retirement by a British teenager few had heard of, naturally it came at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The site of Clijsters’ greatest tennis moments and memories was fittingly the site of her last one.
Clijsters, who hadn’t lost a U.S. Open match since the 2003 final but has said this would be her final singles tournament, fell Wednesday to Laura Robson 6-7 (5), 6-7 (5) in the second round. Unlike her first retirement — when she gave birth to daughter Jada, only to return with a U.S. Open title — this swan song appears to be permanent.
“I played some of my best tennis here, some of my greatest matches. It feels like the perfect place to retire, I just wish it wasn’t [now],’’ said Clijsters, the No. 23 seed. “But there was no doubt in my mind this was the tournament where I would be able to play my last singles match. … Laura played extremely well. I fought, I gave it my all. It just wasn’t good enough at the end of the match.’’
Clijsters had won 22 straight matches at the U.S. Open, despite being interrupted by injuries and retirement. She earned championships here in 2005, and then — after giving birth to Jada and losing her father Leo — came out of retirement to win again in 2009 and 2010 before missing last season’s Open with an injury.
“Here in New York, the atmosphere, I was able to take a lot of the energy with me in my tennis. … I always felt like it just clicked for me whenever I played here,’’ Clijsters said. “I enjoy being in this environment, being here on ‑site.
“Playing on center court has been an incredible experience still, even now after so many years,” she said. “When I step out there, the night match, it was still very special. I’m happy that — although I’ve been there a few times — the specialness of that situation has never gone away. That’s nice to have those emotions.’’
Clijsters’ exit happened at the hands of the 18-year-old Robson, who turned in a performance that belied her age for a seminal victory that could boost her promising career.
Despite palpable tension, the young Olympic mixed doubles silver medalist did well to keep Clijsters off-balance and pushed back deeper into the court than she prefers. Even with Clijsters’ trademarked splits and skids across the court, the composed teenager was running her ragged.
Clijsters fought off match-point to force a tiebreaker, pumping her fist. But on the penultimate shot, Robson ran down Clijsters’ shot into the corner and returned a forehand winner down the line. After Clijsters’ service return sailed long, the match — and her career — was over.
“I was just trying to play as hard as I could, because I knew if I didn’t Kim would completely dominate,” Robson said. “I had to work as hard as I could, get as many back as I could and work my butt off. I went in with no expectations; she had all the pressure on her. I was just able to play as freely as I wanted, go for all my shots.’’
“I was just trying to play as hard as I could because I knew if I didn’t Kim would completely dominate,” Robson said. “I had to work as hard as I could, I had to get as many back as I could and work my butt off.”
brian.lewis@nypost.com