( CNN ) -- It was the scene of her first grand slam triumph in 2005 and where she roared out of retirement to complete a hat-trick of titles in 2009 and 2010 . But this year , the U.S. Open will serve as the swansong to Kim Clijsters ' rollercoaster career , and the popular Belgian is aiming to bow out with a fourth Flushing Meadows crown . `` ( I am ) too old to play the game that I want to play physically , '' the 29-year-old , who initially retired from the sport to give birth to her first child in 2007 , told the New York tournament 's official website . `` I 've put my body through enough strain and everything . The whole lifestyle , that 's what I 'm dealing with now , the lifestyle I 've had for the last 15 , 20 years . '' The former world No . 1 turned pro in 1997 and has won 41 WTA Tour titles in addition to her three U.S. Open triumphs and her 2011 success at the Australian Open . `` I think for me the most important thing is I 've always followed my heart , '' she continued . `` I 've always done what I felt was right . I 've always stayed true to who I am . `` Players change . There 's so many other things involved than just tennis and practicing . I think you see players kind of losing the true sense of life , and of the sport . '' Clijsters took the sport by storm on her return in 2009 , winning the U.S. Open as a wildcard to become the first mother to take a grand slam title since Australia 's Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 . She successfully defended her title 12 months on , before adding the Australian Open to her collection just five months later , beating China 's Li Na in the final . `` I did n't expect obviously when I started back after having Jada , I never expected that things would be going so well so soon , '' she added . `` It 's been an incredible adventure these last three , four years . `` I feel like I 've been able to kind of finish that chapter of my tennis year on a good note . '' Clijsters returned to the top of the world rankings in February last year , but her body began to let her down . She missed Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2011 with ankle , wrist and shoulder injuries , but was fit enough to play in her first Olympic tournament at London 2012 . Silver medalist Maria Sharapova defeated Clijsters in the quarterfinals , but she is now looking forward to bringing her career to a close at an event which has provided so many happy memories . `` I have no regrets . I know I always gave myself 100 percent , '' she said . `` The US Open will be a special occasion for me to be playing there and to end my career there . I 'm sure it will be emotional . ''
The U.S. Open will be the final grand slam of Kim Clijsters ' career . The Belgian has won at Flushing Meadows three times in the last four years . Clijsters took the tournament as a pro in 2009 after coming out of retirement . The 31-year - old also claimed the title in 2009 and 2010 , but has struggled with injuries recently .