Posted: Thursday February 8, 2007 5:47PM; Updated: Thursday February 8, 2007 5:47PM

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Former U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters may miss the French Open and limit her farewell season further to reduce the risk of injury.

Clijsters, ranked fourth in the world, pulled out of this week's Open Gaz de France in Paris because of a sore hip to ensure she could play in next week's Diamond Games in Antwerp -- her last tournament in her Belgian homeland before retiring at the end of the year.

On Thursday, she said she will skip the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, Calif., from March 5-18 so she can play in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. She won both Tier I events in 2005.

"I will have to take more rest after every tournament," she said on her Web site. "It means I will skip Indian Wells so I have three weeks of rest until Miami.

"It might well be that I skip Roland Garros, so I would be top fit for Eastbourne and Wimbledon in June."

The 23-year-old Clijsters twice has been a French Open finalist, in 2001 and 2003.

She has played two tournaments this year, winning her 34th career title in Sydney before reaching the Australian Open semifinals. She returned to Belgium with a sore hip and will resume serious training only on Friday.

She plays her first match since the Australian Open next Wednesday in Antwerp.

Clijsters has been dogged by injuries in her career. Last year, a left wrist injury prevented her from entering the U.S. Open to defend her title, and from playing in the Fed Cup final.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/tenn...s.ap/index.html

I thought you were going to make a thread called 'The Kim Clijsters Criticism Thread' or something roflmao

roflmao

doesn't she hate clay anyway? so it'll be no disappointment for her. She stands more of a chance on the faster surfaces.

I have to say, I find Kim's aversion to clay quite odd.

I personally think that this surface suits her game just as well as the hardcourts do, if not more. But she's got this mindset that she'll get injured on it due to the longer matches, despite the fact that she's probably more likely to get injured on the Rebound Ace or Decoturf.

And grass is her worst surface; her huge forehand swing is exposed and when her serve is misfiring it shows even more :shrug:

I hate Kim at Wimbledon/Eastbourne - its never a pretty sight

She can play well on the surface, it's just that her opponents are most likely to break down her forehand on grass...

I think Kim just really loves Wimbledon :shrug: It's her favourite Slam, and yet it's her worst according to results...

I guess like most players she dreams of winning it because it's the most prestigious tournament - hopefully she'll put in a good showing this year, and not go out in a whimper like at the AO :huh:

That was an awful display :doh: I really thought Kim was going to win, but she just doesn't have the will :shrug: Even when she 'fights', she lacks intensity...

Shame Lindsay won't be at Wimbledon to see her off like she did twice before :D

That display in 2005 :bow:

*sigh*

I entered the Wimbledon ballot in hope of watching her before she retired, but it was never meant to be :(

It didn't matter anyway, I got court 1 tickets for the 2nd Friday :rolleyes: roflmao

I was going to post on WTAW, Court 1 on the second Friday is just doubles isn't it :unsure: :lol:

Sorry about Lindsay :( She may come back for doubles :lol:

Kim's serve seems to me more vulnerable on grass as well. I think that if she serves well she could do well though. Can't see her beating the likes of Sharapova, Mauresmo, Williamses on grass though. Whereas on clay she'd be the favourite behind Jusinte, Serena :shrug:

I guess Wimbledon is the only slam where she hasn't reached the final so she probably wants to try and change that....and I guess she is realistic when it comes to the French - can't really look past Justine.

It'd be nice to see Kim reach a Wimbledon final in her last year but i just can't see it myself.

Also with so many long points on the clay it would be better for Kim to rest anyway and save herself for grass where the points are short. :D

but kim's elasticity on the red clay will be missed roflmao

"No I won't be playing the French Open," she said. "I have always suffered on clay and the time to prepare between Roland Garros and Wimbledon is very short.

"Wimbledon is my goal and so I want to give myself every chance there and will be getting in plenty of practice on grass before then."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6373731.stm

Kim's body is so vulnerable on clay, very wise to skip it. Also we wont be guaranteed a choke/tank from clijsters roflmao

I will be backing Kim to win Wimby...after Venus and Serena of course :D

Doubt she'll be at the USO for me to cheer her on though :rolleyes:

Wimbledon, i'll never favour Kim there. Her big backswings just not ideal at all for fastcourts...........

Us open is her best bet :)

O yes I agree...although she's more likely to win Wimbledon in that she will actually play it :lol:

Well yeah puting it like that :lol:

You cant blame her for missing RG, although saving herself for Wimbers.....

I will be backing kim now that dav wont be there! It just shows that the players would rather win wimbledon than RG. Does this make wimbledon better?