• WTA

Clijsters to miss French Open

ESPN staff
April 17, 2012
Kim Clijsters has been struggling with a hip injury © Getty Images
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Kim Clijsters will miss the entirety of the clay court season after failing to shake off a hip injury.

The former world No. 1 suffered a recurrence of the problem during her third round defeat to Yanina Wickmayer at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami last month.

She was scheduled to return to action in Madrid early next month, but her recovery has been slower than anticipated and Clijsters has confirmed she will not be fit in time for Roland Garros, which begins on May 27.

Instead, Clijsters, who intends to retire at the end of the season, will turn her attentions to preparing for the grass court season ahead of Wimbledon and the London 2012 Olympics.

"It's such a pity not to be able to play a last clay court season," Clijsters told her official website. "But I can't be fully fit for Roland Garros. I look forward to having more time to prepare for the unique grass season with Wimbledon and the Olympics."

Clijsters, who has slipped to No. 41 in the world rankings, has now targeted a return to action at the Unicef Open in June.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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