Kim Clijsters Is Expected To Be In The Australian Open Draw

Written by: Staff on 9th January 2012

Kim Clijsters Is Expected To Be In The Australian Open Draw |

For Australian Open officials at least, the tournament appearance of holder Kim Clijsters is all but guaranteed as the Belgian concentrates on healing a hip problem in this final week before the start of the major in Melbourne.

Clijsters put out an optimistic report after being forced to quit a match in Brisbane. “With this one I kind of have an okay feeling,” the Open website quoted the 28-year-old mother as saying. “If everything comes out okay it should take a little (less than) a week to get completely healed.

“I felt my left hip was getting tighter and tighter to the point I couldn’t move forward with my upper body. The smartest choice was not to let it get any worse and try to be right for Melbourne.”

The four-time major singles champion spent most of 2011 on the sidelines with other physical problems. Doctors have told Clijsters that she is merely dealing with a muscle spasm on a right hip muscle. Other players are also hoping for fitness, with Roger Federer (back spasms), Serena Williams (ankle) and Maria Sharapova (ankle) all working to be ready for the start on January 16.