Injured Clijsters bows out of French open

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BRUSSELS: World number two Kim Clijsters could miss the French Open next month after suffering a serious ankle injury at a wedding, the Belgian announced on her website.

Clijsters had announced last week she would be on the sidelines for between four and six weeks with shoulder and wrist injuries, placing doubt on her participation in the Fed Cup.

Now her absence could be extended to the French Open at Roland Garros after the US and Australian Open winner suffered what was described as a severe injury at the wedding of her cousin Tim.

The injury was revealed on her personal website, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] although no details of how she suffered the injury were given. Scans revealed she had strained both the medial and lateral ligaments of her right ankle as well as suffering injuries to the ankle joint and tendon damage.

On her website the injuries were described as "a severe strain of both the medial and lateral ligaments of the right ankle and torn ligaments, a torn capsule of the ankle joint, a hematoma and torn tendon sheath". The ankle has been immobilised and Clijsters will not be able to use her foot for several days.

The recovery time is set between four and six weeks, meaning Clijsters could miss the start of the French Open. The tournament, where Clijsters was runner-up in 2001 and 2003, begins on May 17.