Hewitt and Clijsters reveal split
 
Lleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters, tennis' most high-profile couple, have split up.
The Australian and Belgian had been due to marry in February but a statement on Clijsters' website said their engagement was over.

It said the couple had "jointly decided to put an end to their relationship for private reasons".

The statement added: "Both of us distance ourselves from the malicious gossip which inevitably surfaces in this kind of situation."

The relationship between the 23-year-old Hewitt and the 21-year-old Clijsters began after they met at the Australian Open in 2000.

Hewitt's feisty nature is in contrast to Clijsters' reputation as one of the nicest players on the tennis circuit but their romance flourished.

The two former world number ones come from sports-mad families - Clijsters' father was a professional footballer while Hewitt's father played Australian Rules.

They spent time together whenever their busy schedules allowed and were regular fixtures at each other's matches in Grand Slams where the men's and women's tours play alongside each other.

And they got engaged on a romantic boat trip around Sydney Harbour last December.

Clijsters made no secret of her desire to take a career break in the not-too-distant future to have children and her ongoing wrist injury led many to speculate that would be sooner rather than later.

A wedding date was set for February but now comes the news that the pair have ended their relationship.

The nature of professional tennis means that many players stick within the game when forming relationships.

But Hewitt and Clijsters were unique in that both were world-famous players yet their romance survived even the extra pressure that that brought.

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf may edge them when it comes to fame but Graf had already retired by the time their relationship became public.

Perhaps a more relevant precedent for Hewitt and Clijsters was the romance between Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert back in the 1970s.

The American pair got engaged back in 1974 when Evert was 19 and Connors 21.

When both won Wimbledon that year and danced together to "The Girl That I Marry" at the famous champions' ball, it seemed like a match made in heaven.

But their relationship floundered and they split up less than six months later.
 

Source : BBC

I bet the papers will interview all the entourage of Kim Clijsters, I'm really curious to know what happened exactly. It was already strange that Hewitt didn't play the Masters Series tournament in Madrid, and apparently he's in Australia now..

Here is the statement on Kim Clijsters official website...

Kim and Lleyton split up 22-10-2004

In mutual consent, Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt decided to end their relationship. Private reasons have urged the couple. As a consequence, the announced wedding has been cancelled as well.

Like any other couple breaking up, Kim and Lleyton will not communicate about the split in the media. They will keep it a private matter and they both distance themselves firmly from the malicious gossip which inevitably will turn up in situation like this.

Several reports claimed the bride-to-be had become upset by arguments between the two families over the location of the wedding - which was planned for February.

But speaking on her official website, Clijsters responded: "I am stunned by all the media attention about a strictly private matter.

"I understand that people want to know about the end of our relationship - but some of the gossip that is appearing just goes beyond certain values.

"What is wrong with journalists if they spend the night camping outside my house? If they start following me and the rest of my family? If they start insinuating things about my mother or Lleyton's?

"I sincerely hope that everybody will show some respect for me and my family and that these gossips will stop. And that everyone is curious to find out about my wrist (injury) and my tennis."

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Originally posted by: Administrator
"   Stunned? I am a little shocked that she would expect the media to turn a blind eye! Its a sad state of affairs but I think the best thing for her would to give them the reason. Sometimes its better that they just announce the reason to prevent silly rumours from flying around."

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