Clijsters stretches US Open winning streak to 22

New York: Kim Clijsters began the last tournament of her career by winning her 22nd consecutive US Open match, beating 16-year-old American wild card Victoria Duval 6-3, 6-1 in the first round on 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 US Open. Duval was making her tour-level main draw debut after earning a berth by winning the under-18 US national championship.

Duval actually led 3-2 after 13 minutes on Monday. But Clijsters quickly gained control and won 10 of the last 11 games.