23-year-old Kim Clijsters has announced her retirement from tennis with immediate effect.
Clijsters, who is ranked fourth in the world, crashed out in the second round of the J&S Cup in Warsaw earlier this week following a straight-sets defeat to Ukrainian qualifier Julia Vakulenko.
The former world number one and 2005 US Open champion said: 'It has been more than beautiful. The rackets will be hung up.'
Clijsters, who had intended to quit at the end of this season, has been plagued by injury problems in recent years and revealed they had finally taken their toll.
The Belgian former US Open champion, who is getting married in July, had already pulled out of the French and US Opens.
Clijsters said last week she did not want to risk getting injured again and having to wear a cast at her wedding to American basketball player Brian Lynch.
'The difficulty in getting out of bed each morning to warm up the muscles for an hour, and preparations for the marriage to Brian takes up a lot of time. All that made it very difficult to continue.
'To retire before the age of 24, it is very young, but it was so beautiful. I would have been able to continue for a few months and to take part in the four most lucrative tournaments (three Grand Slams and Masters).
'The money is certainly important, but not the most important thing in my life. Health and the private life are the most important.'
The Bilzen-born player reflected with fondness on the decade she spent on the WTA tour.
'The most beautiful memories of my career? Many victories in tournaments, grand slams in singles and doubles as well as being world number one in singles and doubles,' she said, before looking to the future.
'It is time for a new life. Time for marriage. Time for children? Time also to relax and to play with my dogs. And especially to spend a lot of time with my family and friends.'
