Clijsters' career ends after mixed doubles loss

She and mixed doubles partner Bob Bryan fell 6-2, 3-6, 12-10 to Ekaterina Makarova and Bruno Soares in a back-and-forth match filled with clutch shots, loud cheers, four saved match points and — at the end — no tears.

"It's surprising that I kept it dry, I haven't been crying," Clijsters said. "I think that's just another sign that it's the right choice."

Clijsters, a four-time Grand Slam champion, announced months ago the U.S. Open would be her last tournament. She lost to British teen Laura Robson in singles Wednesday, snapping a 22-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows, where Clijsters won titles in 2005, 2009 and 2010.

Clijsters and Kirsten Flipkens lost in the first round of women's doubles Thursday.

The mixed doubles loss pulled down the curtain on the 29-year-old Belgian's career. It came with her husband, Brian Lynch, watching from the stands with their 4-year-old daughter, Jada, in his lap playing with a stuffed animal.

When it was over, security guards worked hard to clear a path from the court to the locker room, as Clijsters was swarmed by TV cameras, autograph seekers and other fans — all trying to grab one more memory from a player whose smile and positive attitude spoke as loudly as her game.

"You can feel the fans," Bryan said. "But the people in the locker room, when they love you and they respect you that much, that's true character. That's what Kim has."

Clijsters said even though she gave it her all for the match, she couldn't feign heartbreak over her latest — and last — loss.

"Do you want me to say I'm shattered that we lost?" she said, in jest, to Bryan.