A fourth U.S. Open title apparently isn’t in the cards for defending champion Kim Clijsters. On Friday, the Belgian withdrew from the final Grand Slam of the year with a rectus abdominus strain.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to defend my U.S. Open title this year because of a stomach muscle injury,” said Clijsters, 28. “Two weeks of rehab was not enough to heal this injury. Obviously, I’m very disappointed. I trained very hard this summer and felt in a good shape to play.”
“There’s nothing else I can do than to rest and have treatment every day,” continued the world No. 3, who skipped Wimbledon and has been limited to just two matches since Roland Garros. “If a gradual approach isn’t taken, I will relapse in the same injury, and therefore I have also no other possibility than to withdraw from the tournaments in Tokyo and Beijing.”
“It’s unfortunate,” said USO Tournament Director Jim Curley. “We wish her a full and speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year.”
