Kim Clijsters has said goodbye to Wimbledon for the final time after being beaten in straight sets by Angelique Kerber this afternoon.

The four-time Grand Slam winner and former Wimbledon semi-finalist announced her intention to retire after the US Open and was hoping to bow out of SW19 in style.

However, she didn't start well against Kerber, losing her service game at the first time of asking.

Kerber looked strong on her serve, with Clijsters failing to trouble the German, but the reverse couldn't be said as Kerber broke Clijsters twice more to take the first set 6-1.

If the writing wasn't already on the wall for the Belgian, it was at the start of the second set as Kerber broke Clijsters in her opening two service games to race into a 4-0 lead.

Kerber remained strong on her own serve to make it 5-0, before Clijsters held serve to get herself onto the scoreboard in the second set.

It was merely a case of delaying the inevitable, however, as Kerber once again held serve in impressive fashion to take a 6-1 6-1 victory.