Tennis: Kim Clijsters withdraws, wrist injury still plagues her!

Last year's runner-up Kim Clijsters has officially withdrawn from the Australian Open due to a wrist injury.

Clijsters, who has only just begun hitting backhands in training, has failed to recover from the long-term problem which hampered her for much of 2004.

A statement on her official website, www.kimclijsters.be, said: "The recovery of the wrist injury is going well, but Kim doesn't feel like putting too much stress on the joint that early and wants to avoid any possible risk."

The first Grand Slam event of the season gets under way in Melbourne on January 17.

Clijsters is now aiming to return to action at the Proximus Diamond Games in Antwerp on Febraury 14.

However, the Belgian star could opt for a wild card in Paris, where she is the defending champion, the week before if her recovery goes quicker than expected.

Clijsters has played just one tournament - which she was forced to quit - since May.

Sportinglife

She'll be missed, but the field wil still be deep, with the Williams's and the 'ova's around. Definatley deeper than the Men's side.

Sharapova has pulled out due to some sort of illness...

all of a sudden, ustralia just doens' look as nice.