Kim Clijsters withdraws from UNICEF Open but will be fit for Wimbledon – Tennis News
Former world number one, Kim Clijsters, pulled out of the semi-final clash with the Pole qualifier, Urszula Radwanska, on Friday due to a stomach injury. However, the situation is not that bad for the Belgian, who bids for the
Wimbledon Championship starting Monday.
Clijsters commented, “I felt the side of my stomach in my match against Bondarenko and against Schiavone the injury was there the whole match. If I could keep playing here I would, but with my injury history in this area, this
was the smart decision to make ahead of the next few months. The next few days will be tough and I'll do everything to be at my best and close to 100% at Wimbledon."
She has already missed bulk of the season due to several niggling injuries. However, her comeback to the grass court was an emphatic one. She ousted the likes of Romina Oprandi in the opening battle at UNICEF Open before powering
down the upset queen from Ukraine, Kateryna Bondarenko. She also stunned the former French Open Champion, Francesca Schiavone, in the quarter-finals. However, the continuous pain in her stomach forced her out of the competition and gave an easy route to the
Pole booming starlet, Urszula Radwanska, into the final.
The Belgian further added, “I'm disappointed and I feel terrible about pulling out in Rosmalen, especially as it is so close to home and many fans have been supporting me here.” It is always good to take precautionary measure before
big events because missing out on a small tournament like UNICEF Open won’t hurt as much as missing out the Wimbledon Championship. It was a right decision by the 29-year-old Belgian superstar who is currently ranked 53 in the world having topped the world
lately in February last year.
Clijsters will say goodbye to the world of tennis after the end of year’s fourth Grand Slam Championship, the US Open 2012. She is a world class act and everyone will miss her thumping forehand and backhand returns, volleys, tweeners
etc. She has given a lot to the world of tennis and deserves all the praise for her accomplishments. She might not be a great legend like Steffi Graf and other but definitely meet the likes of Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Venus Williams.
However, she has a tough draw in the opening round; will be up against the Serb former world number one, Jelena Jankovic.
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