Lleyton hewitt kim clijsters wedding

Kim Clijsters relationship with Aussie superstar Lleyton ...

Hewitt and Clijsters were due to have married next February

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, Clijsters end love match - ABC News

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

MIXED DOUBLES

Jimmy Connors/Chris Evert
Got engaged in 1974 but split up a month before their planned November wedding.

Evert went on to marry - and divorce - former British number Looking Back at Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitts Tennis ... CIP