NEW YORK (AP) — Kim Clijsters began the last tournament of her career by winning her 22nd consecutive U.S. Open match, beating 16-year-old American wild card Victoria Duval 6-3, 6-1 in the first round Monday night.
Clijsters has left Flushing Meadows with the title each of the last three times she played — in 2005, 2009 and 2010. She missed the Grand Slam tournament in 2011 because of an injured stomach muscle.
The 29-year-old Belgian is retiring after this year’s U.S. Open.
Duval, who is based in Bradenton, Fla., was making her tour-level main-draw debut after earning a berth by winning the under-18 U.S. national championship.
Duval actually led 3-2 after 13 minutes Monday. But Clijsters quickly gained control and won 10 of the last 11 games.
