'The time of going has come': Kirsten Flipkens says farewell at Wimbledon

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Ten years after reaching the singles semifinals in a Cinderella run, Belgian Kirsten Flipkens said goodbye to professional tennis for good at Wimbledon on Monday after a third-round loss in doubles.

The 37-year-old, who retired from singles play 12 months ago after a second-round loss to Simona Halep at the All England Club, and Timea Babos, unseeded, were beaten by Caroline Garcia and Luisa Stefani 7-6(8), 6-3 in what was the last match of Flipkens' career.

Post-match, the Belgian was greeted with warm applause by the other three players and the assembled crowd on Court 12 in the last moments of her 13th and final Wimbledon, as she shared an emotional moment with her support team that included longtime friend, Hall of Famer Kim Clijsters.

"There is a time of coming and there is a time of going, and the time of going has come," Flipkens, who played her first professional event in 2001, later tweeted.

Less than a day earlier, Flipkens confirmed that would indeed be retiring from tennis entirely after these Championships, tweeting: "After saying goodbye last year here in singles, [there is] no better place on earth to say goodbye to the sport I love."

The Belgian had won the girls' singles title at Wimbledon in 2003, making her two farewells at SW19 fittingly full-circle. A one-time world No. 13 in singles, Flipkens won one WTA singles title and seven doubles titles in her career. She also reached the final in mixed doubles at the US Open in 2022.

In recent months, the Belgian served as a mentor for Roland Garros finalist Karolina Muchova, and was a fixture in the Czech's player box during her run to final in Paris.